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Chapter Text

Smoke.

Too much smoke.

Belladonna opened her eyes, the pod opening to let her out. Coughing at the sight in front of her, she wondered where she was. She remembered being in Baldur's Gate. For the first time in years, she was home.

Then she heard the bells, seeing the Nautloid in the air as panic overcame the streets. Debris from the crushed tower coming down, her magic protecting her and a crying child. The child's mother thanked her, running away as tentacles flooded the street. She sliced one away with her dagger, parrying another but was taken by the next.

Her memories moved to her standing by a man, brain exposed to the elements, psionically talking to her. She assessed the situation, ignoring the pleas of the intellect devourer as she gave the man his last rites before mercifully putting him to rest.

It moves once again to meeting Lae'zel, their minds connecting in a powerful psionic force, the two of them taking out a handful of imps, divine powers burning the devils to ash.

Her memories shift again, to the next chamber. Belladonna then saw her in the pod; jet black hair and green eyes. The symbol on her forehead made her instinctively reach for her warhammer.

"You! Get me out of this damn thing!"

Sharran her training called back to her. Leave her.

Save her. Your Oath demands you help anyone in need!

Leave her

Save her

"Please!"

"Damnit," Belladonna cursed, moving towards the console to figure out how to release the woman. "Damnit..."

Pain shoots through her body, waking her. She hadn't experienced real sleep in...years. Belladonna groaned, the events on the ship replaying, fresh in her mind.

She looked around, checking herself for injuries but found herself in good health. Her hammer was nearby, as was her shield. Belladonna knew, at least, she was no longer in Avernus. She picked up her weapons, studying the crash site when she saw her. The same woman from before.

Sharran her mind echoed as she approached. Enemy of Our Lady in Silver. Kill her.

She reached for her hammer, something else stopping her as her hands wrapped around the handle. She helped you. She could be of use.

All Sharrans are the enemy. Kill her

Don't. She has the parasite as well, she could help, in her own way. Spare her, a female voice called out.

Belladonna shook her head, grip loosening on her hammer as she woke the woman up, Shadowheart recoiling. They caught up to speed, Shadowheart thanking her for helping her in the ship before they continued.

Belladonna led the way into the wreckage, looking back once to the woman following her, still taking in their surroundings. Does she not recognize her armour? Her rank? That she was the cleric's enemy? she wondered.

"Where to?" Shadowheart asked.

"This way. We can check for survivors along the way. We're still missing one."

"The Githyanki?" Shadowheart sneered. "We have no need for her."

"She helped us. Seem to know more about these parasites than we do. She'd help," Belladonna said. "At least, I hope she will."

"Putting your faith in an enemy. Not a wise move."

*You have no idea.* She thought.

She sat away from the group as they set up their makeshift camp. So far, they found 3 survivors: Lae'zel - the Githyanki woman who had helped them on the ship. The wizard, Gale of Waterdeep, was apparently on the ship as well but somehow found himself stuck in an arcane hole once they were flung back into the material plane and Astarion.

"Where do you think we are?" Shadowheart loomed over her, watching Lae'zel carefully. Belladonna looked around, her soldier training taking over as the familiar smells of the Sword Coast filled her lungs. Judging by the colours of the cliffs, still in the Western Heartlands.

"Best guess, the Heartlands. Where in the Heartlands, that I'm not sure." Belladonna said, getting to her feet. "You're a cleric, are you not?"

Shadowheart eyed her curiously, guard still up. "And you are a Paladin. A Paladin of Selûne, at that."

"So you knew," Bella replied, eyes meeting. "So you worship Shar, I serve Selûne, dare I ask how you feel about working together in this?"

"As long as we have use for each other, I can bite my tongue and stay my blade," Shadowheart replied, meeting the challenge. "Whatever you and I think of each other means little. We stand in our opposition, our goddesses have determined it. This cause, however, has united us."

"A truce then," Belladonna proposed. "While we figure out how to get these worms out of our heads, the eternal war we have been cast to play a part of can wait."

Shadowheart raised an eyebrow at her, "Some would consider diplomacy a virtue. Others might see it as a lack of will." She paused, studying Belladonna. "I suppose there is no harm in learning about the opposition, though I doubt there's much to learn. A truce then?"

"Truce." Belladonna stuck out her hand, offering a shake. "On my oath to the Moonmaiden."

"And my vow to the Nightsinger," Shadowheart countered. "Until the worm is out of our heads."

"Until the worm is out of our heads."

"We don't have time for this non-sense!" Lae'zel cried out as Astarion freely looted the corpses at their feet. "The parasites in our brains will turn us into Mindflayers any day now. We could turn within the hour, yet we waste our time with these people's plights."

"We won't get anywhere if the rest of the Sword Coast is our enemy." Belladonna yelled back, using her full elven height to now tower over the Gith.

"The Crèche can help us. We need to find them."

"We don't even know where they are!" Belladonna shouted. "I will not forsake my Oath to help people and avenge those who cannot fight for themselves. These druids need our help. The Tieflings needs our help. They've opened their doors to us, offering what little they have to help us. We have barely a enough coin to get us by, we might as well help them while they are helping us."

Lae'zel huffed, standing down from the challenge. Belladonna continued, "You trusted me before this, on the ship. Trust me on this now. We need the gold. We need supplies and we need answers. If this Halsin can help us, I will take it. If we find a lead about your crèche, I swear to you, we will follow it too. At least this way, we have options."

"Options will not help us when we turn into *ghaik*!"

"Then we might as well give up now, if that's what you want! If you feel this strongly about this, stay at the camp then. Or leave! We'll press forward without you." Belladonna shoulder her way past the growling Githyanki, wiping the blood off her face with her tabard.

She caught Astarion's eyes as she left, the man putting his hands up to confirming he wont challenge her as she walked towards where Shadowheart had their prisoner. "Any luck?"

"No. Your turn I guess," Shadowheart said, stepping away from the captured goblin.

"Our Lady in Silver, grant me patience for all this. Forgive my actions in the coming days. Let your hand guide my judgment and let it be swift when passing your justice." Belladonna muttered to her self as she set her hammer down with a thud on the body of a still breathing goblin. "Where is your camp?"

"Fuck off!" Belladonna lifted her hammer, bringing it down with greater force. The goblin cried out in pain.

"I'll ask you one more time, where is your camp?"

"The Absolute will prevail!"

Belladonna sighed, lifting the hammer once more, bringing it down on the goblin's head with all her strength. Shadowheart watched, not flinching at the sight. "Didn't think you Selûnites had the balls."

"Don't start with me, Sharran."

Shadowheart held up her hands, glow of magic emanating from them. "Not here to provoke you. Just observing your handy work. Let me tend to that." She nodded to the open gash on Belladonna's side. Bella looked down, the would still fresh. Shadowheart can feel her hesitate.

"Truce," the cleric reminded her. Bella nodded, feeling Shadowheart's hand on her flesh briefly before the feeling of the healing magics coursed through her, shutting the wound. "Should keep you going for the rest of the day. Better make camp soon though."

"We're not making headway. Who the bloody fuck is this Absolute?" Belladonna asked, securing her hammer to her back.

"Cult, surely. Speed of the headway is staggering though. I've never heard of them yet they seem to have this entire area under their thumb," Shadowheart noted, taking note of the amount of goblins they just had to fight. "With the group from yesterday, 20 goblins in all with no less than 2 ogres."

"One ogre is too many already," Belladonna said. "We'll head west, check out what lies beyond in the overrun village. Hopefully Wyll and Gale have made headway with in the grove."

"Look at you two, being friends," Astarion remarked, tossing Belladonna a scroll and handing Shadowheart pouch. "Nothing of note on those but I think you need to see what's in there."

Belladonna opened the scroll, reading through it glaring at the words. Shadowheart pulled the another Illithid worm in a jar. It was still alive, reacting to her...their power. "They're using the worms to find us."

"What does this have to do with the Absolute?"

Belladonna took the parasite from Shadowheart, studying it. It screeched, calling out to them, making her frown at the scenarios going through her head. "I don't know. And I have a gut feeling we won't like the answer."

Chapter Text

The days past flickered in and out of focus.

Kahga's threats to the young tiefling, Arabella, Bella's mind replaying her choices and somehow convincing the druid to letting the girl go. There was the tiefling children, getting berated by Astarion for getting some of their gold stolen by the kids.

There was the meeting with Alfira, a bard, rescuing a child from Harpies, venturing forth to find a small group that called them "True Souls."

They had found a dog and its dead master, mauled by an owl bear. They found the injured owlbear and her cub. Putting the miserable angry mother to a merciful end and letting the cub live. The statue of Selûne in the cave made her pause seeming still well kept for being in a cave.

She is pulled yet again to a different day, the fight against the hag making her flinch. They nearly lost the girl, Mayrina, but Shadowheart was able to lower the girl down. The rest of the fight was intense, the group taking on the hag in her own lair, Lae'zel striking the killing blow to the miserable creature. Belladonna had healed Shadowheart from the brink of death, confusion in the cleric's eyes clear when she was offered a hand up but left it as they hurried out of the swamp.

Her mind moved to the conversation that happened afterwards, the group recovering from the ordeal.

"Why?" Shadowheart asked her, the rest of the question left unasked. "You could have left me..."

"I've made a promise to help you, help all of us get these worms out of our heads." Belladonna stopped writing. "I keep my promises, even if that means saving you."

"And after? Are we to fight it out for them?" There was pain and uncertainty in her voice.

Belladonna looked up from her journal, setting the quill down on the page. "Upon my oath, I must do what is right," she recited. "Upon my blade, those in the darkness shall be bathed in the light." Shadowheart glared at her. "I know what I must do. And I think you do too."

"So be it." Shadowheart replied, walking away from her.

*Do you though?* The voice at the back of her mind asked her. *Do you know what you must do?

*Better question yet, will you do it, when the time comes?*

Belladonna woke from her trance with a jolt, eyes adjusting to the darkness. Astarion was still awake, the man seemingly more comfortable at night than during the day. Belladonna grabbed her hammer and bow, slinging both onto her back, not bothering with her armour. "I'll be back."

"Going for a walk?"

"You can say that." Belladonna said, stalking her way out of the camp. Her eyes adjusted to the dark, feet carrying her back to the owlbear cave, back to the statue of Selûne in the darkness.

She stared up at the visage of her goddess, breathing a heavy sigh as she set her bow down. "I've never questioned you before," she started. "But I am having a very hard time with this path you set out before me."

"This feels like a cruel, sick joke. An Ilithid parasite in my brain, a so called guardian taking the form of my mother!" Bella cried out, "My mother! The woman's death in your name not being enough but this creature, this guardian..." She let out groan.

"This is all a test isn't it? One cruel test of faith in you." She remembered Shadowheart, the growing friendship between the two of them and she laughed bitterly. "The Sharran too...gods..." She threw her hands up.

"She's a test...This friendship to you is a test!" Belladonna yelled out, her voice echoing in the empty cave. The statue of Selûne mocking her in silence. "Why? Has my devotion not been enough? My oath, my faith, my loyalty...."

Nothing.

"Why?" She gripped her forearm, the bracelet feeling hot against her skin. Echoes of her mother's laugh, her father's broken cries when they found her dead from a Sharran ambush. Her resolve to avenge her mother's death, years of training both at the Gate and in Neverwinter. Becoming both the shield for Selûne's followers as well as her hammer of divine justice.

Belladonna looked up to the statue, pleading for an answer only to be met with silence. She wiped the tears that had fallen, allowing herself to be vulnerable in the empty chamber. She took a deep breath in, looking up at the statue, bathed in soft moonlight. She pulled from her memories the sacred words of Selûne, giving her strength:

Let all on whom my light falls be welcome if they desire to be so. As the silver moon waxes and wanes, so too does all life.

"Trust in my radiance, and know that all love alive under my light shall know my blessing. Turn to the moon, and I will be your true guide." Belladonna recited, eyes steeling in resolve.

At the cave entrance, hidden the shadows, Shadowheart listened closely, before turning around, clutching a flaring symbol on her hand.

"Must we go back to the swamp?" Astarion asked, preparing his daggers. "We went through that entire place already."

"You're not coming. Gale is venturing with us. He can check the items we didn't touch in that laboratory," Belladonna explained, Astarion not hiding his relief. "You and Wyll are to scout the village. Take an estimate of the forces within."

"Joy..."

Belladonna patted his shoulder, signalling for Lae'zel, Gale and Shadowheart to follow her back towards the swamp. The illusion of pristineness was now gone, acrid smell of sulfur filling the air instead. The bodies of the dead redcaps littered the wetlands, Bella still watching for any more to appear. She retraced their footsteps, going back down to the hag's lair making her feel uneasy once again.

"Yeah, Astarion's right. The smell will definitely not come out of our clothes for a while," Gale commented, following closely. Bella and the rest stayed quiet, eventually arriving back to the hag's workshop. "Ah, wonderful, let me look around."

Lae'zel rolled her eyes, following Gale closely to learn about the items. That left her and Shadowheart to guard the entrance.

"Ah, this seems to be the item Mayrina is looking for," Gale said as he held up the wand. "Mind you, this is coming from a hag. There will likely be an awful side effect to whatever magic this has."

"Let us leave then," Lae'zel said. "The sooner we get out of this retched place, the sooner we can go back to what matters."

"I believe I spotted a magic circle up above that could lead us back outside faster." Belladonna raised an eyebrow. "They are perfectly safe, I assure you. It would also make sense to have an emergency exit of sorts."

"Are you complimenting the hag's use of teleportation magic?" Shadowheart asked, bewildered.

"I will not deny the clever use of it, no."

"Fine, let's go." Belladonna said, Gale leading the way to the circle before stepping into it, vanishing from sight. They all followed, Belladonna looking around the area one last time before stepping in.

They landed on the far side of the swamp, Gale already talking to Mayrina. "I'm telling you young one, this sort of magic has consequences."

"I just want him back," the woman wept. Gale held the wand in his hand. Belladonna approached, Gale looking at her as she held out her hand. "Please," Mayrina pleaded.

"Your call," Gale said, handing her the wand. "Do what you think is best."

Belladonna looked at the corpse in the coffin, the weeping woman in front of her and the wand. "Upon my oath, I must do what is right," she repeated, snapping the wand in two.

"No! You monster!" Mayrina cried out, striking Belladonna's armour with her fists. "You can't! I need him, I can't live without him."

"Snap out of it!" Belladonna yelled back, grabbing the woman's wrists. "He may be gone but you are not!"

"I cant...He..." Belladonna released her, only to back hand the girl to stop.

"Your folly has led to more deaths! Your brothers tried to rescue you and they are gone now. How many are you willing to sacrifice for him?" Mayrina stood stunned, the rest of her party keeping their silence. "Trading three lives for one isn't worth it, trust me."

"Three?" Gale asked, looking between her and the sobbing girl.

"She is with child." Belladonna said. "The hag wouldn't have stopped with her until she had that child."

Mayrina didn't reply, soft sobs still coming from her. Belladonna started to move towards the stairs leading back up to the hut, not looking to see if her group followed her. She stalked her way out the front, footsteps following behind her. "Harsh," Shadowheart said as she caught up. "Necessary but harsh."

"She needed to hear it. She's a fool to have bargained with the hag and to think there wouldn't be anything malicious about the magic placed in that wand."

"A fool in love is far more dangerous than a regular fool," Shadowheart recited. Belladonna couldn't help but agree.

Chapter Text

They felt a pulse as they walked to the village, Wyll and Astarion's scouting revealing it to be the village of Moonhaven. Immediate pang of pain, psionic waves nearly bringing all of them to their knees. The "Absolute" spoke, telling her horde that her emissaries are near ready to take over the gate.

Belladonna could feel the tadpole squirming, taking all her training fighting back against it  but she couldn't...it was calling to her. To all of them.

She saw it out of the corner of her eyes. Shadowheart pulled the artifact from her pouch, the spiked icosahedron glowing, flaring with its own psionic energy before the tadpole stops squirming. Her mind was hers again.

"Everyone alright?" she asked, earning a nod Astarion, Gale shaking his head before hurling into the nearby bushes.

"As good as being blasted with psionic energy can be," he said, holding a finger up before letting out a big sigh. 

She looked at Shadowheart, still reeling from the experience, eyes not leaving the artifact. "What? Don't look at me like that."

"Awfully convenient, that little toy of yours," Belladonna said, getting her bearings again. Shadowheart held the artifact closer to herself. "Keep it close."

"You're not going to question me about it? Not even a little?" Shadowheart asked. Belladonna shook her head. "Trusting me could be your downfall, Belladonna."

"Could be," Bella replied. "You seem to know what it is, and if It's cursed, it's on you, not me."

"There it is," Shadowheart smiled at her. "To be honest, I'm not sure what it is. All I know is that I was tasked to retrieve it. And everyone else that went with me perished for this. I have to return it back to Baldur's Gate."

"Secrets. Got it." She said looking across the bridge to the village. "So, they think we're allies?" Astarion nodded. "Let's go find out who this Karlach really is."

For the most part, Belladonna noted that the group worked well together.

For the most part.

She had observed the tension between Lae'zel and Shadowheart even on the nautiloid. Lae'zel was a formidable fighter, and has been a good blade by her side but Shadowheart...

The Sharran she felt, she had to keep a closer eye on. There was something about that artifact Shadowheart was being cagey and now, Belladonna stood between the two women as they bickered about the bloody thing.

"ENOUGH!" Bella cried out. "What brought this on? Why are you ruining our sleep?"

"She's a little thief! She holds an heirloom of my people! She's spilled my kins blood. A blood price must be paid." Lae'zel spit out.

"Heirloom? This artifact is the only thing keeping us from becoming this ghaik that you loathe so much. Be glad I have it." Shadowheart countered.

Belladonna rubbed her head. She was too tired for all of this. Not after fighting a paladin of Tyr earlier. Her body still ached from the blows of divine energy. Karlach nearly set them all on fire in her rage. Not to mention the revelation to Wyll that he was tricked, the encounter with devil Mizora and Wyll becoming a demon. She was not ready for more of this. Not tonight.

"Enough! Any ideas on how to settle this so we can all have some rest, please, I am willing to listen to."

"I do not wish to spill blood tonight. Come daylight, we will find a place to end this." Lae'zel suggested, Shadowheart seething.

"Fine. You can accept you're wrong, or we'll be rid of you permanently. Either way, I win."

Belladonna watched as they both moved back to their respective areas. "That's not the end of it, is it?" Wyll asked her.

"Knowing them, probably not." Belladonna replied. "Get some rest. I'll keep watch."

"You sure?" Belladonna nodded, taking a seat by the fire. "Wake us if you need back up. Although you can handle yourself and them, I'm sure."

Belladonna meditated, taking in the sounds of the night. Frogs croaked in the nearby pond, wind rustling the reeds. She could feel the tethers of the trance starting to take hold, her head bobbing when she saw a shadow at the corner of her eye. She moved as fast as she could, but Shadowheart was already on top of Lae'zel.

"Don't do this," Belladonna said, warhammer at the ready in case it came down to it. "We need her Shadowheart. Her Crèche might still be able to help us, if not we can still use them as allies. We can't afford more enemies, not with this threat of the Absolute looming."

Shadowheart held Lae'zel's gaze, Bella not backing down. "Fine." She looked over to Lae'zel. "Can I do that Lae'zel? Can I turn my back on you?"

Lae'zel's jaw was still tight, eyes holding Shadowheart's for far too long before nodding. "I will work with you, but if she tries again, the outcome will not be the same."

"We don't have to be enemies," Belladonna said. "We don't have to be friends either. We can just be working towards the same goal. Channel that hate towards our enemies, not amongst ourselves."

Shadowheart let Lae'zel go, dagger still at hand as she walked back to her tent.

"Paladins, man," Karlach commented with a laugh, turning back as well. "Ever the diplomats."

Belladonna rubbed her temple. She definitely needs a drink after that. "Astarion, take over keeping watch. I need to sleep."

"Yes, captain." He said with a mock salute, Bella taking a bottle of wine to her tent to start her trance, wishing for a way to actually for a sleep for once.

A series of barks woke her from her trance, Belladonna opening an eye to see Karlach standing over the same dog from a couple days ago. "Heyo! What are you doing here?"

The dog barked three more times before she heard Karlach reply. "Well she's still doing her elven sleep thing but the other one should still be up. Hey, Shadowheart! There's a dog looking for you!"

"A dog?" she heard Shadowheart ask, Belladonna closing her eyes again to say a prayer to Selûne when she felt four presences in front of her. "Wake up, Belladonna."'

"In Our Lady in Silver's name," she finished her prayer, eyes opening to see Shadowheart roll hers. "I was already awake. I heard the dog. I'm not sure we're the best group to be keeping said dog."

"But he can keep the camp safe. We wouldn't have to move around a lot if he's there guarding it along with the rest of the group," Karlach pleaded, gesturing wildly into the air. "We can play fetch with him, well you guys can but I can help feed him and I'm sure he's going to be a good addition to the camp."

"And your reasoning for the dog?" Bella asked Shadowheart and Astarion.

"I like all creatures," Shadowheart proclaimed, "Even annoying ones like Astarion."

"Annoyingly handsome, I'm sure."

"Plain annoying." Shadowheart clarified with a playful smirk. "Like a pebble in my boot."

"I'm hurt darling. And I thought we were starting to get along," Astarion feigned a stake to his heart. "I'm more of a cat person myself but I'm fine with it as long as it stays out of my stuff."

Belladonna sighed, standing up to stretch. "If Wyll, Gale and Lae'zel are okay with it as well, then fine. But Karlach, we're going to have to figure out your heart so that you can help with keeping up with Scratch."

"Fuck yes!" Karlach yelled out, gesturing for the dog to follow her. "Let me introduce you to Lae'zel. I think you've met her already."

Astarion followed behind them, reminding Karlach that the dog is to stay away from his belongings. Belladonna noticed Shadowheart's smile, making her feel like there was something more to the closed off woman. "We should get ready to set out. Who do you think we should bring today?" Bella asked. 

"You're asking for my opinion?" Shadowheart questioned. 

"As much as I like our other companions, I've taking a shining to your brooding presence. Makes me come off more...approachable."

"Why anyone would want to approach you, I don't quiet understand but I guess people have varying tastes," Shadowheart teased, Belladonna smirking at the exchange. "Given what happened last night, I think I'd prefer Astarion and Karlach. Karlach has made short work of goblins before and I will admit, I do enjoy Astarion's company."

"Don't let him hear you give out that compliment. We don't need his ego to get any bigger than it is." Belladonna said, starting to put her armour on already. "We'll leave after we break our fast."

Shadowheart nodded, walking back to her tent to get ready herself. Belladonna watched her disappear behind the rock, sighing heavily as she willed her heart from beating so fast. She looked up to the sky, the faint outline of the moon still visible in the morning light. "Goddess preserve me. This is going to be a long day."

Karlach's blade sliced down the bugbear, all of them panting after that fight.

"I need to wash my eyes," Shadowheart said, covering her mouth to possibly hurl. "Dark Lady, please erase those memories from my mind!"

"Love is love," Astarion commented, still laughing at the situation. "He was giving it his all, that poor lad."

"We shall never speak of that ever again," Belladonna commanded, shuddering at what they walked into. "Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"I won't lie to you, I wanted to know how far he would go," Karlach said, watching Bracus walk away. 

Belladonna sized up the gnome, looking around at the dead goblins at their feet. "That one is about the same size."

Karlach beamed, grabbing the goblin as Astarion rummaged for some rope. "I thought you were much more mature than this," Shadowheart said, smile on her face betraying her tone.

"If Arvandor's rules apply here, I'm still not matured," Belladonna reasoned, Shadowheart shaking her head as they both watched as Karlach and Astarion tie up the dead goblin to the windmill, both giggling with glee, as they started the windmill again.

"I dare you to still eat it," Astarion said, Belladonna shoving him as Karlach looked dejectedly at the broken dagger and the sharp piece remaining in the honeyed ham hock.

"Eat around it," Shadowheart encouraged, Belladonna looking at her in confusion, "What? It's still edible other than the shrapnel."

"But there is shrapnel!" Belladonna countered.

They continued to the far side of the village of Moonhaven, Belladonna stopping as they approached the bridge. She was sure everyone could feel the anger rising from her as they followed her gaze.  

The temple of Selûne, desiccated, defiled by the Absolute's army. Bodies, some fresh, some just bones now, littered the bridge, Bella only imagining the grizzly sight inside. 

It was a slaughter. 

*Avenge.*

She could hear a gasp from Karlach, but her eyes could only stare, grip on her warhammer tightening more and more. Memories from a decade past reminded her of her last time here: the joy of the day, the laughter she had shared with her fellow paladins. It was their pit stop before Elturel. A safe refuge for most travellers and familiar home for worshippers.

Now, it was a shadow of its former self.

*They defiled our temple!* she heard in her mind. Her mother's voice...

"We're with you, whatever you want to do about this, we'll support you." Karlach reassured her.

*This is your duty*

Belladonna couldn't reply, anger taking away her voice in that moment.  She looked over to Shadowheart, solemn façade looking at the scene. She wanted to pry into her thoughts, see if the Sharran is revealing in the sight of desecration. But Bella resisted. 

She looked on instead, undoing the vambrace on her right arm to unhook the bracelet she wore. It was her mother's bracelet, given to her when she passed on. The same bracelet Iliranne wore when she undertook a holy crusade against the King of Shadows over a century ago in the name of Selûne. The same bracelet given to her by her mother and her mother before her, all of whom answered Selûne's call as one of her knights.

Bella understood now, why she was sent here. Closing her eyes, she started her incantation, wrapping the bracelet around her weapon, lifting it to her forehead as she finished. Bright, radiant energy lit up the warhammer, eyes glowing the same brilliant white. 

*Vengance...*

She was a paladin of Selûne, one of her chosen. She was to make this right, with blood and fury of a thousand moonlights. 

She will make this right.

Chapter Text

With a final slam of her hammer, the worg fell, the jail cells echoing from the blow. Belladonna huffed, scanning the area as Gale leaned against the stone pillar he was beside of. "I don't know about the rest of you lot, but I need a rest."

"He's right. We cant keep this up," Karlach said, setting down her axe. 

"Rest then, I'll keep looking around." Belladonna replied, making her way back to the priestess and the bear now looming over the dead body. The bear shfited, changing to the man they were looking for. "Halsin, I assume?"

The man nodded. Belladonna listened to him explain what happened, from the ambush to how he was captured still in his bear form. Bella felt a presence beside her, Shadowheart listening as well. Halsin looked at her companion, then back to her. "A Sharran? Helping a Selûnite?" he questioned.

"Our goals align for now, I can vouch for her." Bella replied, not looking back at the other woman. "What do you know about the three "true souls"?"

Halsin explained the three, Belladonna telling him that they've already defeated Guts and the Zhentarim, and are making their way through the rest of the camp before they found him. "You're heavily injured, young one. You need to rest before pressing on, especially against Minthara."

"I'm fine," Belladonna said, tearing a piece of old cloth to wrap around her wound.

"Are you daft?" Shadowheart cut in. "I'm tired! The rest of us are tired! We're almost tapped out of magic and you're still on this bloody conquest?" 

"Stay here and then. I will go fight them alone." Belladonna turned to leave, Shadowheart catching her.

"Sit. Down." Shadowheart commanded. Bella didn't feel any spell effects on her, both of them just holding each other's eyes. "You are no use to us dead. The rest of this camp still thinks we are their allies. We can go about this more pragmatically and not brute forcing our way through."

They held each other's gaze, anger and duty meeting concern and logic. Belladonna wanted nothing more than to scream at her, heathen that she was, for stopping her in her sacred duties. They were all tired, she knew it. The battle against Priestess Gut and the Zhentarim agents alone gave them a pause on how to continue about this.

But she had to keep moving. Had to press on. This was her oath. This was her destined path.

"I will make Karlach hit you over the head if I have to, Belladonna. Sit. Your. Arse. Down." Shadowheart ordered. She waited for the spell to kick in but again, there wasn't. Their eyes battled, Bella's jaw tightly clenched as Shadowheart met her challenge. "Final warning."

Bella yanked her arm away, sitting beside Karlach for a rest, Karlach passing her some water. 

Shadowheart kept an eye on her, sitting by Gale as the group took a short rest. Halsin did some healing magic on them, as they heard merriment continuing in the other areas of the temple.

"So," Karlach broke the silence. "Any ideas on what to do about Minthara and the Hobo-gobo?" 

"Hobo-gobo?" Gale asked her.

"A hobgoblin. That's what's his face right? The other one?" Karlach answered, taking out a piece of jerky to snack on.

"Dror is in charge of spewing the Absolute's lies. He's a brute but there are rafters you can take advantage of, if you're quick enough to get up there." Halsin said, remembering what he saw before getting captured. "If I recall, Minthara has her own area, past the library. There's a bridge to get to her so it's a choke point. She's the strategist, the brains of this lot. You'd have to take out the scrying eye to get to her. I think from this point forward, especially with your injuries, it would be best to be discreet on this." Halsin advised. 

"There is no honour in hiding in the shadows," Belladonna growled, Shadowheart immediately glaring at her.

"And I guess you just want to head in there, and smash her down with your hammer." Shadowheart countered.

"It's been working so far!" 

"Your injuries say otherwise."

"Young ones," Halsin said in Elvish, making both of them stop. "There is a time for brute force and there is a time for subterfuge. Both are equally valid options, with their own strengths and weaknesses. While brute force have gotten you this far, young paladin, I think your Sharran companion is right about subtlety going forward." Belladonna pouted into her armour. 

"What are they saying?" Karlach asked, confused.

"Halsin is lecturing them," Gale said, with a coy smile, both Belladonna and Shadowheart glaring at him. 

Silence took over once more when Karlach's eyes sparked. "Gale, in your bag, do you have those fire bombs? The ones the gobbos kept lobbing at us."

"Yes, why?"

Bella could see a plan forming in the tiefling's brain, Gale catching up to her thoughts. "Elves and Humans are not flame resistant. Just reminding of that, Karlach," Karlach waved him off, getting up to pace as she thought of her plan.

"So, I present Bella as a turn cloak, yeah, tossing her down at Minthara's feet. Give her a story that she managed to kill the guards before we caught her," Karlach said going over her plan. "I tell her that we might have found more of them, getting her to go over the bridge and when she does, Shadowheart sets the bridge on fire. Gale uses that hold spell on the bitch, I free Bella, the gobbos are cut off from the drow and we kill the drow before she has a chance to make a stink. A mixture of both paths. It's good."

"Your definition of good is vastly different from mine," Gale said. "But it could work."

"And if it doesn't?" Belladonna questioned, the plan sounding ridiculous in her head.

"Then you can smash their heads in." Shadowheart answered. "Like a brute that you are."

Karlach looked at her, beaming at her idea. Belladonna sighed, "And I am to be bait in all of this? Why?"

"Because you're a Paladin of Selûne," Karlach pointed out. "If anyone would be upset about this whole operation, it'd be you. You're full of your righteous fury right now. Makes it more believable."

Bella looked over to Gale and Halsin, both men shrugging. "It's the best plan we have right now, given your injured state."

"Fine," Bella capitulated, holding her hands together. She heard Shadowheart dig around her own pack, coming over with rope at hand. "You're enjoying this." Belladonna commented at her smile. "Of course you are."

"Even if it's for make believe, I enjoy seeing a Selûnite bound and gagged." Shadowheart securing her hands behind her back before wrapping it around her waist with a final tug. "I won't lie, you look good tied up." Shadowheart teased in Elvish.

"If my hands weren't bound, I would punch that smile off your face." Belladonna replied in common, making her fury known.

"You can try," Shadowheart leaned up, wiping some blood off her face. "You'd fail though."

"Alright. We'll see you in a bit, Halsin." Karlach said, pushing Belladonna down the hall.  

"Good luck," Halsin said, the rest of them waving as they made their way out of the prisons.

"I'll meet up with you at the camp," Belladonna commanded, eyes not breaking contact from the throne in the middle of the temple, Dror Ragzlin dead at her feet. Minthara went down better than they had planned, the fire bomb breaking the bridge as Minthara stood on it, making her fall to her doom.

Dror Ragzlin however, was different. Even with killing the other guards first, the fight was tougher, the hobgoblin managing to separate the group to her and Shadowheart while Gale rescued Karlach from the Spider pits. It was hard fought but they managed to bring down the hobgoblin with one final concentrated strike.

Halsin held up an injured Gale, Karlach standing by the doors, nodding at the command as they turned to leave but she saw Shadowheart hesitate. "Go Sharran. This does not concern you any longer."

Shadowheart stood her ground, Belladonna glaring at her with rage and divine energy. "LEAVE!" She yelled out, slamming her warhammer on Dror's throne. Shadowheart stood there defiant, Bella lifting her warhammer towards the cleric's face. "This place is still sacred to the Moonmaiden. Even in its current state, this is still hers. It is still ours!" Her voice echoed in the empty chamber.  

***Heretic...***

"Heretic..." Belladonna lifted her warhammer towards Shadowheart.

"Belladonna," Karlach called out. "Don't do anything you might regret later." 

***Cleanse the heretic.***

Their eyes were locked, fury in full view but Shadowheart said nothing. Belladonna hesitated, remembering the nautloid and what they've done together so far.

No...no...

***CLEANSE*** a female voice commanded in her mind. 

Belladonna lunged. Karlach acting on instinct as she slammed the butt of her greataxe into the paladin's stomach, then to the back of her friend's head, dropping the woman on the ground. "Fuck!"

"Fuck...."

Chapter Text

Shadowheart looked around the temple, taking it all in. While she still held the Moonwitch in contempt, she had to admit the structure itself was a sight...would have been a sight to behold back in its prime. 

There was a beauty to it, the faded blue and silver of the mural still coming through despite being defaced in many parts of the temple. What she assumed was painted tiles still held some of the silver and blue known to the Moonwitch but she could only imagine how they would have reflected both in sun and moonlight. The statues, she had to admit, were beautiful. The longer she stared, it was as if they called to her.

But she shook that thought out of her head immediately. She was a chosen of Shar. Enemy to Selûne. Eternally locked into war with the Moonmaiden. She knew of her duty. Her purpose. 

She turned away from the mural, feet carrying her out of the maze into the temple's main courtyard, where the rest of the group was. Her eyes moved to the unconscious paladin, restrained in her unwanted sleep, guarded by both Halsin and Karlach. Karlach was worried, despite being told over and over again that she didn't kill the woman, yet she stood guard at the paladin's side. Lae'zel surprisingly said nothing, as did most of the others once it was explained to them what happened. Halsin bandaged Bella's wounds, telling Shadowheart to best stay away for now. Reluctantly, she obeyed the elder druid. 

She wandered away to the other side of the temple, finding a rocky crag that led up to a stone bridge. She wondered what it was used for, but found herself sitting on the cliff edge, looking down both at the temple and the river below.

As much as she tried, she kept looking back towards the camp. Towards her.

She remembered when she first woke in that pod, banging on the pod door until Bella and Lae'zel found her. She could hear them argue, Belladonna swearing before going up to the console before leaving. She thought she was done for when Bella returned, strange device at hand, cursing in elvish as she tried to make sense of how to work the console when it opened for her. Bella caught her as she slumped out, checking her for injuries before telling her they needed to get out of there.

She had been there with her from the start of this unwanted adventure and up until today, they were working fine together. They stayed their blades, though she hasn't stayed her tongue when it came to cursing out the other's goddess. 

They had their arguments in the beginning, both throw snide remarks about each others goddess. The barbs had softened over the last week, though Belladonna still clenched her jaw tightly when she mentioned her Lady of Loss. 

Verbal spats instead became wordless sparring matches, never enough to injure one another but she took great pride on every nick she had put on Bella's dumb handsome face. 

Why was she so drawn to the paladin, she wondered. Mortal enemies and all yet they still gravitated to each other. She wasn't blind to Bella's looks of attention followed by an immediate pang of confusion, regret and mental anguish. She was sure she had done the same, albeit in a more subtle fashion compared to Bella. 

She could understand if it was just owed loyalty to the woman who saved her from certain death but at this point of their joint venture, she had saved hers just as much, if not more. 

She's healed blows for all her teammates but Bella seemed to focus what little healing she had exclusively on her. Karlach teased her about it once, after they killed some gnolls, but Bella only shrugged, saying something about keeping the one keeping them alive safe. No malice. No hesitation.

There was an easy banter between the two of them, if they avoid the subject of gods. Bella had an easy charm to her that made people pay attention when she spoke. She carried herself with practised ease and commanded most situations she was in with a stern look. Smug confidence that could only be brought forth from years of training. 

There was an obvious pull there, something that made her heart flutter but she tried to bury it down. Her mission was too important for some infatuation. An infatuation with the enemy no less.

She breathed in a deep sigh, wondering if the pull was from the Mistress of the Night if she nudging her to finish off the paladin while she slept. One less Selûnite to worry about. One less Moon Knight at that. She had immediately recognized the tabard of the Moon Knights, sworn Paladins of Selûne even back on the ship. Oath sworn to get rid of the Moonwitches enemies.

Like her.

But Bella saved her. 

She could have left her there to die but Bella saved her. 

Mortal enemies don't save one another. 

Like they have. 

She knew that Bella was struggling with them. As composed as she was, she knew she had been fighting to keep up with her Oath. From what she remembered of her own training, those bound to the Oath of Vengeance often lead either a life of pure zealotry or they end up breaking their oath. 

Belladonna towed the line between mercy, justice and vengeance. She was having a hard time but wouldn't dare break in front of all of them. Following her in that cave, yelling at the statue of her goddess, pretty much pleading for an answers in between sobs made Shadowheart want to yell at her back but she stayed in the shadows. Bella continued to ask for answers they both knew wouldn't come.

Her mind wandered to the fight. She should have said something when Bella told her to leave. But she didn't. She stood defiant, staring at the woman, lost in her own devotion. There was sadness in hindsight, that this person she had come to care for get so lost over something she likely had no power over.

She lay down, looking up at the stars that peaked out of the clouds. Her hand flared in pain as she thought about Belladonna. Her dumb smile, the fullness of her laugh, how her auburn hair would become redder in certain light. She laughed to herself when she remembered what she was taught. That you should keep your friends close but your enemies closer. 

This wasn't what she expected. She wasn't expecting to be in love with her enemy.

Lady Shar forgive her.

Chapter Text

Belladonna walked around the temple, clearing the remnants of the Absolute from it. The group decided to camp outside, using the courtyard as a base of operations as they planned with the tieflings the celebration that was to happen that following night.

No one dared enter the temple, most of the group leaving her in peace to sort through what happened.

When she woke a couple hours ago, she was guarded by Halsin and Karlach. Halsin checked her over, Bella wondering where Shadowheart was as Karlach ranted about what had happened. The tiefling said something about keeping Shadowheart away for now and Bella couldn't help but frown.

She was left to her thoughts, everything that happened fresh in her mind. Bella knew deep down she didn't mean to turn on Shadowheart. The last part of the battle against Dror, she felt like it wasn't her in control anymore. Not the tadpole but as if Selûne herself was puppeting her every move. Divine anger fueled each strike of her hammer, righteous blind fury bearing down on anything in her way until she turned on her own allies. 

She honestly felt like they were working well together, putting their gods aside for the sake of the same mission. She had started to consider Shadowheart a friend, but at that one moment, she remembered only seeing a dark void. An enemy. The emissary of Shar.

Before the tadpole, she wouldn't have hesitated. Her oath was that of vengeance, as was her mother's and her mother's before her. It was instilled to her from a young age that the women of their line, even before the sundering, served the Moonmaiden to their dying breath. To eradicate those who follow the night sister was her duty. All her training commanded her to do it.

But she hesitated.

That's where Belladonna's confusion on the whole situation lies. It wasn't the tadpole that stopped her. The guardian from her dreams was quiet the entire time they were at the temple. 

It was as if she pulled back her body from continuing the rampage it was on but was overpowered by something else before Karlach knocked her out.

She rummaged through Priestess Guts area for clues on anything that might help them going forward. She saw a familiar book from her childhood, curiosity getting the best of her as she opened it.

The Orders of the Church of Selûne

She flipped it open, eyes roaming the pages as it listed the known orders: The Sun Souls, The Silver Ladies, The Oracles and hers, The Moon Knights. The past orders the Silver Path and the Guardians of Light.

She flipped the page to the zealots: The Knights of the Half-Moon, long disbanded crusaders. The Swords of the Lady, fanatics willing to do anything to serve the lady, putting them at odds with the other orders.

But they all served the same purpose. The same goal. 

All in the name of the Moonmaiden.

Belladonna shook her head, closing the book as she looked around again, finding a journal, cryptic but could be the answer she was hoping for. 

She left the room, going back to the central chamber to just take it all in. Every cultist dead. But why didn't she feel better about it?

That's when she felt the darkness around her, as if it was whispering to her...Thanking her for helping. Belladonna frowned at the thought, shaking her head but the feeling remained. 

The tension was clear amongst them. She knew they would have to talk to each other about it sooner rather than later but Belladonna didn't know how to broach the topic so she avoided it, Shadowheart seemingly happy to do the same.

But she had to get this thought out of her head. She had to confront it. This idea of darkness that lingered in her mind.

She found her way back to the courtyard, now mostly cleared up. Piles of dead goblins littered the side area where they had rescued the owl bear cub, most ready to be set alight. Shadowheart stood to the side, just taking in the area with a sternness on her face.

"Can we talk?" Belladonna asked, Shadowheart turning to face her. The rest of their group watched, "Alone. Please."

Shadowheart nodded, following her back into the temple entrance. "Ready to finish the job?" Shadowheart asked once they were out of everyone else's earshot.

Belladonna sighed, leaning against the stone pillar. "No. I..." she took a deep breath. "Your goddess..." Shadowheart leered at her. "I felt her...Why..."

Shadowheart scoffed. "I don't doubt she's revelling in this defeat." Belladonna could feel the rage boiling inside her again. "As for what your asking, maybe she saw it fit to intervene, have you questioning the orders of your god in her own temple. It is in her nature to help those at a loss."

Belladonna just looked at her. Moonlight shone into the open temple doors but her own shadow covered Shadowheart, as if to pull her into the darkness of the empty, defiled temple.  

"What drew you to her?" Belladonna asked. 

Shadowheart held her hand, wincing in pain she tried to hide. "She took me in when no one else would. Without her, I wouldn't be alive. What drew you to your moonwitch?"

"Obligation. Duty," Belladonna said, noticing a bit of resentment in her voice. "Our family has been loyal, even before we came down to the material plane, we have been her guards." Shadowheart frowned. "I had no choice in the matter. The path laid before me already. As is the destiny of all the women of my house." Belladonna let out a sigh. 

"I'm truly sorry for what I did, Shadowheart. The rage blinded me from seeing you as an ally and as...a friend."

"Apology accepted," she confirmed. "I'm not upset at you, for what it matters. If it was my temple, I may have done the same. The ferocity of your anger, I will admit, was a sight to behold. Maybe my Lady has taken a shining on you after seeing your handy work."

Those words stung. Shar taking a liking to her was something unimaginable to her before all of this. She rejected the notion with a shudder, letting out another sigh. "Our truce still in place then?"

"For now." Shadowheart replied, "But if you so lift your hammer against me again, I will not hesitate."

"I expect as much."

"Maybe I'll tie you up again too, if you attack me again. It was a fun sight." Shadowheart teased, Belladonna couldn't help but shake her head with a laugh. "Are we done here? I should keep an eye on Karlach before she gets into trouble with Gale again and putting extra spice on the food he's making." Belladonna nodded. 

Shadowheart stepped around her back to the courtyard and into the moonlight. Bella watched her leave, looking back to the darkness of the temple and wondered which god was watching over them right now. 

Which god occupied the hallowed space? 

Hers or Shadowheart's?

They heard an explosion in the early morning hours, everyone running to the bridge to see what had happened. They could see the smoke further out, Bella yelling order to get ready immediately. She tossed Wyll his rapier, the one she had sharpened the night before during her watch as he rushed passed her, Karlach and Shadowheart following after him. 

They were nearly there when *he* appeared. Belladonna glared at the devil across from her, Raphael offering a feast, showing his devil form to them, offering to be their saviour with his solution.

"Take us back now," Belladonna gritted out, alert on high as everything around her pinged of malice. They shouldn't be here. He cannot be trusted. 

"You're mad if you think we'll make a deal with a devil," Shadowheart spit out, as alert as Belladonna.

"And what is madness but a denial of reality?" he countered, "You religious lot, such boring characters you are." They all listened to his speech, weapons at the ready as he finished. "Hope." he laughed. "Such a tease."

"Take us back now!"

Raphael laughed, watching her. "Still holding out for your goddess to point you to the right direction. Poor lost lamb. Don't worry, I'll be there when that hope of yours runs out."

Their vision blurred again, they were back at bridge towards the explosion. 

"Bloody Hells," Karlach swore. "Fucking Raphael himself is on us now. That can't be good."

Belladonna couldn't help but agree.

Wyll stayed with Councillor Frolick, trying to make sense of the situation about the Duke. The Fists still taking count of their injured as the fire was finally settling into embers. Karlach wanted to stay with him as back up and no one could argue with that. They came back hours after, Wyll telling them that the Absolute had kidnapped Duke Ravengard.

Belladonna stood off to the side of the temple's courtyard, personal notes on what has been happening scattered on the table in front of her, none of it adding up. The pieces that they had didn't make any sense.

All of them, all her companions were infected by the Mindflayers, save for Halsin. Wyll and Karlach were against each other in Avernus before being infected. Gale and her was caught when the nautiloid attacked the Gate. Lae'zel hunted mindflayers as was her duty to her queen. 

How did the devil fit into this? she wondered. What is Raphael's stake in all of this? Devils do not offer their help without a price, or without something of theirs being on the line already.

How are the Absolute and the Mindflayers connected? She knew little of this Absolute before. Which god did they serve? Was it a new god, like the Raven Queen or was it a cult to an wannabe who wants to ascend? How are they connected to the Ilithids and by extension, the Gith?

The Githyanki also factor in when it came to the artifact Shadowheart had in her possession, Belladonna looked at the paper in front of her, studying her notes on the subject. What was the artifact anyways? All Shadowheart was willing to say about it was she was sent to retrieve the artifact for her own goddess. No one else survived their mission but her. That's how she played into this but Bella couldn't help shake that there was something more.

Belladonna sighed, looking around her. She was growing weary of the games being played. They were pawns in all of this, all of them were, but her and Shadowheart more so than the rest.

It felt like she was a response by Selûne to whatever Shar was planning. The silver bracelet on her right arm reminding her of her vow, mirroring the black prayer beads Shadowheart kept on her left arm. Both of their focuses, direct opposites.

She gathered the papers back into its bag, tossing it back in the enchanted trunk Gale had devised for them as she stifled a yawn. Tomorrow, the creche and finding this secret passage Halsin said was in the temple of Selûne to the Underdark. There was the banquet as well.

But for now, she would have to rest. And hope that the moonlight will keep the darkness from seeping further into her mind.

Chapter Text

Belladonna nursed her chin, Zarys' punch hurting more now that they were back in the cool outside air. The Zhentarim leader didn't kill her on sight, which was a plus, but she still got a good punch in for good measure, before laughing and tell her men not to kill the "paladin bitch and her friends."

"So, paladin bitch," Astarion teased as they walked towards where the crèche was supposed to be. "Care to explain what that was about?"

"We had a...mutually beneficial relationship," Belladonna explained. Astarion raised an eyebrow, not believing her. "She found me the evidence I needed, and I didn't turn her over to the Wintershield back in Neverwinter. It was beneficial to both our lines of work." Astarion kept his eyebrow raised. Bella sighed. "We might have slept together. Once. Just once."

"There it is," Astarion's laugh pierced the air, Belladonna's face feeling very hot. "No need to be embarrassed about it, darling. We've all gotten our thrills from somewhere. Or someone."

Lae'zel hushed them all, seeing the a gith patrol down in the valley below. "We're here. My people."

"Are you sure they will help us?" Belladonna asked, just as a dragon flew above them. "Lae'zel?"

They watched as the dragon roared coming through louder than screams of the soldiers on the road. The dragon bore down with its fiery breath, Belladonna backing up on instinct. "We shouldn't be here." Shadowheart said, backing away from the cliff edge. "That's a dragon, Bella."

"If anyone can help us against the ghaik, it is my people," she said, "Come, my kin await."

Belladonna hesitated, looking at Shadowheart, eyes full of concern. "You can stay here if you want. We will meet with them."

Shadowheart shook her head. "No. Let's see what her people have to say. Listen to the lies they tell themselves."

"A weapon?" Gale asked, setting down her food in front of her as he joined her at the table they managed to salvage. "The artifact is a weapon?"

"That's what this Voss said," Belladonna replied, taking a bite out of the potatoes the wizard had prepared. "And now everyone is upset with me."

"What's up with them?" Wyll asked joining the table. Astarion read a book at this tent, glaring at where they all sat while Lae'zel and Shadowheart took their food to their own tents, obviously upset. 

"I managed to convince Lae'zel to lie to her people. She's not happy about it. Shadowheart is upset with me since I took her with us and we could have lost the artifact. And Astarion is upset with me since I stopped him from stealing off dead knights." Bella said, taking another bite of her food.

"Sounds like it was a lovely excursion," Gale commented, Bella rolling her eyes. "Whatever that artifact is, you need to talk to Shadowheart about it."

"Why me?"

"What do you mean why you?" Gale said, wagging his fork in front of her. "She's obviously closer to you. She'd probably try and kill you but you stand a far better chance than I do. Far better than Lae'zel for sure."

"Why not Karlach?" Belladonna asked. Gale waved her off, about to respond with a mouth full of food when Wyll cut in.

"Does Lae'zel not know what it is then?" Wyll asked, Belladonna shaking her head. "Maybe asked once, see if you can convince her to tell you more. If she doesn't, then it's a mystery for another time."

Bella shrugged, not committing to prying further into something she didn't want to know about in the first place. They finished their meal in relative silence, Wyll asking for Gale's help on setting up for the festivities later that night. Belladonna gathered the plates, tossing them into the wash bucket to take to the river below for cleaning later.

She grabbed a torch, heading back inside the temple to find the hidden entrance to the Underdark. She made her way back to the Priestess' room, down the hall where she had seen Selûne's symbol.

She wanted to trust her companions, she really did. For some, it was easy. Karlach was an open book, Wyll, contract aside, was much of the same. Lae'zel, Gale and Astarion were guarded but trusted her and in turn has earned her trust.

Shadowheart though...

She wanted to trust Shadowheart. But years of Selunite beliefs instilled into her still made her pause. All her life, she was taught that a Sharran was an enemy. That they were nothing but agents that sowed chaos through loss. Desperate was Shar that she would use the lost and seal them in her eternal darkness to fight for her own needs. That she would twist people's own memories into her own sick bidding.

Bella had questioned it once, when she was younger. Why couldn't they just get along? she had asked, only to be dealt a swift painful reminder not to ask such a question. 

It was their duty, she was told over and over again. That in a past age, her family was one of the first to pledge their swords to the Moonmaiden. That it was an honour to have been born in such lineage. That there was no better death than to die in battle for her name.

Honour bound. Oath bound. Blood bound.

It was all she knew. So she followed.

But now she was at a crossroad. Does she continue to follow? she questioned. Or does she...Bella shook her head. She whispered a prayer, calm washing over her as she said the familiar words. There was comfort in the prayer, steeling her resolve but she felt it was a hollow gesture. Like a safety net for her own sanity's sake. She knew that she still wholeheartedly believed in Our Lady in Silver. That Selûne's grace and guidance will be forever part of her life.

But this oath...

There had to be something more that she could do...

She found herself in the chamber beyond the Priestess' room, holding the journal she had found earlier, studying the circles in front of her. Her ears perked up, hand going to her hammer when she saw Shadowheart's familiar face at the doorway.

"Was wondering where you were," Shadowheart said, coming closer. "Found something?"

"A possible clue," Belladonna said, holding up the journal."You still upset with me?" Shadowheart rolled her eyes at her. "I'll take that as a no. Is the feast ready?"

"You have time, Lakrissa had just come by with the rest of the supplies. I've already secured a nice vintage for myself tonight." Shadowheart approached her, Belladonna held the book down so Shadowheart could also read it. "Lharast and Nharast...An elvish riddle?"

"The answer, I think," Belladonna said, handing her the journal. "Full moons to match the stars while casting darkness into the light." Bella moved to the middle of the chamber, feeling the pressure plate give way. She crouched down moving the floor beneath her, turning until the dark moon was under the moonlight. Something clicked, Belladonna looking up at Shadowheart. 

"Continue," Shadowheart said, keeping an eye on her as she worked. Bella turned the other circles, moving them ever closer to the moonlight until the final one was set. They heard the sound of the far wall moving, opening up to another set of stairs. "Guess we found it."

"Explore it now or explore it later?" Belladonna asked, nodding towards the unlit torches on the wall.

"Are you asking me to explore a deep dark cavern alone with you?"

"What? Is a daughter of darkness afraid of the Underdark?" Belladonna joked, Shadowheart hitting her with the journal. 

"Arse," Shadowheart said, "Join me for some wine later?"

She gave Shadowheart a nod, both of them just enjoying each other's company as they returned back up to the temple proper to get ready for the feast they were hosting.

Belladonna smiled, Alfira's raunchy song making the rest of the camp laugh, even Lae'zel cracking a small smile. She saw some of the children laughing with the adults, Zevlor thanking them with a toast and cheers. Even Halsin and some of the druids joined in, everyone enjoying themselves for the night. She was maybe 3 goblets of wine in already, still trying to keep a vigilant eye, especially with Mol and her crew running around.

Belladonna scanned the crowd, eyes noticing Shadowheart off to the side, bottle at hand. She held the wine up, shaking it along with 2 goblets. Belladonna gave her a nod pulling away from Lakrissa.

"Leaving already?"

"Just need sometime to reflect." Belladonna gave an excuse, the tiefling accepting it as she turned to pay attention to Alfira's singing. Belladonna looked back at the party, Karlach giving her wink as she followed Shadowheart to the cliff away from it all.

"Finally," Shadowheart said, "Thought you wouldn't make it. I was about to do a toast without you." Shadowheart filled her cup. "Any suggestions?"

"To Us. Mortal enemies yet we've only tried to kill each other once in the week we've been travelling." Bella joked, feeling the wine taking over.

Shadowheart laughed, toasting to the absurd situation before downing her cup. The vintage was strong. "Now tell me something about yourself. No goddess, no tadpoles or dragons. Something about you."

Belladonna leaned back on her elbow, "I'm the youngest of 3. My older sisters are far older than I am, father being different from theirs and all. We're not close. And you? Tell me something something that you like and you don't like."

"Darkness," Shadowheart said, giggling at Bella when she rolled her eyes. "I like night orchids. I don't like swimming. Well, don't like it really since I cant swim."

"I'd offer to teach you but," Belladonna looked down the cliff. "I'm pretty sure this is where I kicked a goblin off a ledge into the river."

They both laughed, laying back on the cliff, just talking, mostly about their companions and what they could remember before the nautloid.

"Should head back," Bella said, turning over to her side. She couldn't help but admire the woman beside her. Shadowheart's light green eyes was a good contrast to her dark hair. She had tried to deny it but Bella knew she was smitten. She got up, Shadowheart watching her intently. "Should do this again sometime."

Shadowheart smirked, "Just name a time and a place." Belladonna nodded, turning around fast to not let Shadowheart see her blush.

Selûne save her, she was in love with enemy. 

Chapter Text

Belladonna looked at the wraith in front of her, confused on what to do. 

They had come back to the sanctuary outside of the grove on Gale's insistence, feeling that they had missed something important there. They had found the Book of Gods, Gale eagerly reading through it already but picked up the straggler as well. She felt someone stand beside her, familiar to her now since Shadowheart seemed to prefer being on her left flank.

"It's not polite to stare, you know," she said. "Although your confusion does mirror the rest of the group."

"The rest of the group isn't oath-bound to dispel the undead on sight," Belladonna said, still waging a war in her head. She had detected no evil from the wraith. Most of her group, even Astarion, didn't ping of evil. Chaotic surely but not evil. Mizora made her mind go into a frenzy when she had appeared. Raphael gave her a headache when he showed up. 

But this wraith...She couldn't place it but she felt like he was there to help them. There was a calming presence to him she couldn't place.

"He's not hurting anyone." Shadowheart said, taking a bite out of the apple she held.

"Yet." Belladonna argued, Shadowheart rolling her eyes at her again. "He can stay. Goddess forgive me." Belladonna gave the wraith called Withers one last glance before turning away, ignoring the voice in her head that compelled her to strike down their undead guest.

"Down we go?" Shadowheart asked, finishing up the apple. Belladonna nodded, waving for Karlach and Astarion to follow them back into the temple. 

"Yeah, We can scout ahead before telling the rest of them to follow. If what I read in that journal was right, there should be a Selûnite stronghold down there. We can use that as a base of operations while we're down there."

"We off then?" Karlach asked. "Think we'll find anything good down there?"

"Good? Hardly. Dangerous, More than likely." Astarion commented. 

"We need to find this path to Moonrise Halsin has been talking about as soon as possible. Stay close and let's hope the Drow patrols avoid the stronghold." Belladonna warned, securing her warhammer back on her back. 

"Keep an eye out for mushrooms. Many of them have good alchemical properties. Bring back some if you can and for the love of whatever god you worship, DON'T EAT ANYTHING YOU DONT KNOW." Gale yelled out as they went down the ladder.

The glow on Bella's warhammer lit their way, the descent down a fair distance from the surface. Bella was the first one down, lighting her torch as she looked around. Iron fencing around the gate gave way to a solid structure. A giant statue of Selûne herself stood in the middle, large piece of moonstone illuminating the courtyard in front of them. 

The group split up, checking different cells and areas before reconvening at the statue. "As secure as it will be for the Underdark," Karlach said when they heard heavy footsteps approaching. Belladonna rushed up the ladder to the parapet, looking down to see a minotaur charging the gate. She looked behind her, moonstone still glowing when it pulsed with energy, the other moonstones front of the gate sending out radiant blasts, taking the minotaur down.

"Defenses are still up. That's good," Bella said. "Good a place as any to set up shop."

"How do we get down there though?" Karlach asked.

"Could shoot the moonstone," Shadowheart suggested, Belladonna shooting her an immediate glare. "Fine, what do you suggest?"

Belladonna opened her pack, fishing out the scroll of feather fall they had found in the priestess' room. "This should do the trick."

"Lead the way."

Her senses were on high alert the moment they left the outpost. Mushrooms illuminated the path, giving the area a nice aura to it but something felt off...was off.

She felt traces of other gods, but the pull from the darkness was far greater here and she's ever felt before. She felt less and less of Selûne's guidance, making her uneasy as they walked away from the glow of the moonstones. 

There were other forces at play down here, most she had no intention of meeting if she had to, some more sinister than others. Each step felt like she was walking into a lion's den, being sheparded to her own undoing. But there was a pull there, like something was calling to her further down the path.

"Well, that's something," Karlach pointed out, snapping Bella out of her thoughts. 

Bella looked over to see a smattering of blood on stone, sword firmly planted in it. Her eyes glowed, trying discern the sword's nature. "Eilistraee" she read out loud. 

"The Dark Dancer?" Shadowheart asked, Belladonna nodding. "You're not going to do what it says, are you?"

"Please don't, not here," Astarion said, Bella noticing that he hadn't fed. She took off her gauntlet, hesitating before offering the blood price the sword sang out for. Astarion groaned but said nothing, refusing to look at Bella's bleeding hand.

The sword lifted with ease, moving it around with practiced grace. "Phalar Aluve. El'Tael Kerym. A Bladesinger's weapon."

"A what?" Karlach asked.

"It's art form for us elves. Spells and sword act in concert, beautiful and deadly. It's been said that when the bladesinger’s sword whirls through the air, it might be the last thing enemy hears." Bella explained. "Never learned it though. It's more of a wizard thing."

"Can we please go back up now? We've barely scouted but after that, the weird underground monster that nearly ate us, the minotaurs, I'm done with this place for the day." Astarion whined.

"Fine, let's head back up to the post." Belladonna said, the group going back down the path. She looked out beyond where the sword was, noticing what looked to be a settlement not too far but that would have to be for tomorrow.

The group decided to keep the camp at the temple ground rather than move everything down to the outpost. Belladonna didn't argue with it as she felt the wind around her. Cavernous as it was, the open air felt freeing compared to the claustrophobic nature of the Underdark. Bella tossed Gale bag of mushrooms they managed to collect, the wizard thanking her with earnest as they set about sorting through the haul.

She explored the area above the temple doors, remembering the fountain that used the run clear with water. She looked down at their camp, remembering what it looked like only a couple days prior and shook her head.

There was a great sadness to it all. Losing the temple who knows how long ago at this point. Bella let her feet carry her to a spot she knew most of the others wouldn't know about, what they, as initiates of Selûne had called the river lookout. 

She climbed the cragged rockface, emerging by the stone bridge before stopping. She had always loved this view but now, all she could see was the charred ruins of the temple and the destruction of Moonhaven.

With a deep sigh, she took out Phalar Aluve, reading the inscription on it once again before wielding it, hoping to attune to the blade. Belladonna closed her eyes, letting her training take over as she practiced with the bladesinger's sword. Memories of sparring on the bridge with her fellow paladins, training with  her mother and sometimes her sister flooded her senses as she moved with practice ease. How long she was practicing she didn't know until she felt someone else. Someone watching her.

"It's not polite to stare, you know," she said, opening her eyes to see Shadowheart. 

"Spar with me," Shadowheart offered, tossing her a familiar looking practice sword from the grove. Bella put the Bladesinger sword away, giving her a look.

"Did you steal this from the kids in the tiefling camp?" Belladonna asked, Shadowheart just giving her a smile. 

"Traded them for real swords, actually," Shadowheart said as she held the sword in front of her. "Well?"

"First to 5," Belladonna replied, returning the gesture. 

The first couple of taps was to get a feel for each other. Shadowheart was smaller than her, faster than her and was able to get hits in lower than what Bella was anticipating.

But Bella stood a good foot taller than her. She had been able to use her reach to disarm Shadowheart before she could close the gap  twice now. They both had their strengths and weaknesses, and at times, they were in perfect sync. 

It felt right.

It was wrong though, Bella reasoned with herself. She pushed against Shadowheart's sword, sending both of them apart with a huff. She wiped a nick on her lip, tasting the blood. Shadowheart didn't move, breathing hard and just watching her.

There was conflict in the cleric's eyes. She could see it clearly in the moonlight. It was probably the same conflict she had been feeling. 

There was a part of her that was screaming, telling her to stop, that this woman...this Sharran, was her enemy. But another part of her wanted this. 

There was no denying her heart that she had wanted this. 

Her feet moved on their own, dropping the sword as she stepped into Shadowheart's space. Their lips met, starting chaste before Shadowheart deepened it, like there was an urge that was kept back now just flowing. Bella held her close, leaning into the kiss, pinning the smaller woman to the cliff behind her. What felt like an eternity passed before they broke apart. 

*What have I done?*

"I..."

"Don't think," Shadowheart whispered. "Just..." Shadowheart leaned up again, Belladonna accepting the kiss once more. They broke apart again, holding each other as they stared into each other's eyes as the clouds darkened the moonlight.

*Selûne forgive me*

Chapter Text

Bella stood in front of the mural of Selûne, silently pleading for an answer, disguised as morning prayers.

She kissed Shadowheart. Shadowheart kissed her back. Neither of them broke the kiss until they had to.

There was a pull for more but it was Bella that pulled back, snapping back to her senses and willed herself to not go back for more. Her heart was soaring but her mind was screaming the entire time, telling her to stop, that it was wrong, that she would require penitence for it. 

Belladonna looked up at the Moonmaiden's face, asking silently once again what she did wrong to be tortured in this way but there was no answer. Belladonna sighed, turning around to the camp, resigned to her fate that this was a cruel test in faith.

"Lae'zel, Wyll and Astarion left with Halsin to see if the mountain pass is more viable than the underdark," Gale explained. "Lae'zel seemed eager to try at least. Are you okay?"

"Yeah...just a lot on my mind...and well, in it," she joked, Gale rolled his eyes but had a smile on his face.

Bella lead them back to the Selunite Outpost, Gale taking the moonstone off temporarily to stop the defenses before putting it back on the statue's staff to let them through the gates, flying around to meet them on the other side. They retraced their steps back to just outside of the Myconid Camp, Gale insisting they go in to see if they had anything to trade for.

They were led to the leader, Spaw, still grieving but there was also an air of anger and bloodlust. They told them of the duergar attack, of the lives lost and the need for this Nere's head, the drow "true soul" that was leading the duergars. They offered them shelter, telling the rest of his clan that they were welcome but asked Belladonna specifically to bring back the drow's head for hurting their people.

She promised she will, speaking with the deep gnome survivor named Thulla next about what happened. Thulla was reluctant at first but once they administered her with some antidote, she spilled everything she knew; Gekh and the abandoned mine, of Bracus, of the rest of her crew. She offered them her stolen prize, the boots that she had taken from the warden before she ran in exchange for helping her friends.

The biggest thing to come out of the myconid camp were Blurg and Omeluum, pair of scholars that Gale had gravitated to almost immediately. They spoke of a possible cure, however they as a group would need to gather the mushrooms required for the potion.

Belladonna agreed to find the mushrooms, open to another option for getting rid of the parasites. They thanked the pair, trading some items with Blurg before leaving to find the mines, remembering Thulla's directions and that there would be a trap set there.

"So, above or below?" Gale asked as they looked out to the abandoned mine. 

"You stay above with Shadowheart. Use her abilities to keep you concealed until they spring their trap to see where they are before coming in." Bella said watching the duergar. "Karlach and I will take below and see if we can get them to stand down before a fight breaks out."

"Subterfuge and brute force?" Gale asked with a grin. "You're learning."

"The hard way," Bella said, eyes on Shadowheart. "But I'm learning."

"Alright, lead on." Karlach said, cracking her knuckles.

Gekh let out a final blood gurgle as he fell, Bella running immediately to where Shadowheart was, hurt and near death. "Te Curio," she said as she channeled her healing into the downed cleric. Shadowheart coughed, one eye open to see see Bella's blood covered face. 

"We won, I take it?" Shadowheart asked quietly, Belladonna helping her up to her feet. Karlach and Gale were up above, looking down at them. 

"She good?" Karlach asked, Shadowheart nodding as Belladonna looked behind her to see if there was anyone else left. 

"It's clear for now."

"We'll check up here," Gale said, moving towards where one of the duergar fell. "Be down right after."

"You okay?" Belladonna asked, not hiding her look of concern.

"Wasn't expecting them to silence and focus me down but I'm fine. Thank you," Shadowheart said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek as she started to walk away. Belladonna froze, brain registering what just happened but her own inner voice was screaming at her.

"Uh, you're welcome," Bella replied, voice in her head still screaming at her for not stopping it as she shook her head to rummage through the fallen duergar's bodies. 

She was confused, to say the least. There was a war in her brain, both figuratively and literally at this point, and she feels torn. They were friends, reluctant allies more like it but after last night, she was sure the feeling they had for each other were mutual.

She watched Shadowheart pick around the fallen just a few feet away and Belladonna wanted nothing more than to fuss over her but she knew that she shouldn't. They haven't spoken about what this was yet. It was just a kiss...she told herself, a chorus of laughter in her brain made her shudder. 

She checked over Gekh, finding a note on his body about the camp across the lake. "What should we do with the bodies?" Shadowheart asked, handing her a spell scroll. "Could be handy, especially if we have to get into the water."

"If this note is anything to go by, they have more people across the lake, at an abandoned temple of sorts. We should push them into the lake or at least pile them into that shack so they can't be found by other patrols." Bella said, putting her shield on her back. Shadowheart nodded, helping her carry the bodies to the shack. Karlach and Gale joined them soon after, the group taking a small break wondering where to go next.

"According to Omeluum, there should be an abandoned wizard's tower not too far from here," Gale said, pointing out the area on the map Thulla had provided them. Belladonna studied the map, looking at the area across the lake instead of the arcane tower.

"Everything down here is abandoned," Karlach noted. "I'd be surprised if there wasn't a structure that wasn't at this point."

"Apparently there are more duergar at a formerly abandoned temple, so there's that." Shadowheart pointed out. "Tower, Temple or finding the missing mushroom picker?"

Belladonna continued to stare at the map, the name of the temple mocking her in scribbled dwarvish runes. She found herself bristling more and more she read it. "Belladonna? Hello?" Karlach said, giving her a shove, finally snapping her out of it.

"Sorry," Bella blinked, looking up to see Shadowheart and Gale studying her. "Tower I think. We can rescue the mushroom picker on our way back before heading to the temple. I think what we need is at the temple so it should be left for tomorrow, once we have had our rest."

She received 3 nods, Gale excusing himself to relay the information to Wyll using the sending stones the druids had gifted them as thanks. Bella helped Karlach hide the other bodies before they all ventured out to the tower.

"I know what you were looking at," Gale whispered to her in Dwarvish as they walked. Karlach and Shadowheart seemed engrossed in their own conversation just in front of them. Shadowheart laughed at something said, Karlach continuing to gesture wildly side her. "Will you be alright going there, after what happened?"

She looked at Shadowheart. "I'll be fine," Bella replied, more to herself than to Gale. Gale looked at her and shook his head. "Really, I will be fine."

"Gods are fickle beings, Belladonna. It feels like they are using you both. You and her are more intertwined in this than you both think," Gale said, "I just hope yours is listening more than hers, if I'm to be honest."

"I hope so too."

The view from the tower was something else, otherworldly.

They managed to get through the tower with only a few arcane blasts from the turrets. Figuring out the lift was trickier but Gale, being in his element, managed to get them up to the top, where they had met and befriended an automaton, allowing them to explore the tower in peace.

Gale was still looking around for any sort of relics and knowledge in the floors below, Belladonna happy with the brief moment of peace to herself after the fight with the duergar. She could see Karlach down below, exploring the area outside of the tower now that the turrets are down. 

Belladonna looked around her, letting out a heavy sigh, setting down the sussur bloom beside her. The flower was something else, utterly beautiful but left her feeling drained, nearly powerless.

Like someone she knew.

She laughed, lying down at the top of the tower when she saw Shadowheart come up the steps. "Was wondering where you were."

"Found me," Belladonna said, not getting up. "It might be the flower talking but I am tired."

Shadowheart picked up the bloom, holding it carefully in her hands before putting it on the stool close by. She walked back to Belladonna, hovering above her while the paladin continued to lay on the floor. "Better?"

*With you here...*

"Better." Bella replied. She looked up at Shadowheart's eyes, green meeting her mismatched blue/silver. "What are we?"

Shadowheart sat beside her, looking out beyond the tower. "What do you want to be?"

"Friends," Bella said. "But we both know our respective mistresses won't allow that." Shadowheart frowned at that. "Allies we are for now but you and I know far better than anyone else the extent both of our orders will go to erase the other."

The whirling of the automatons filled the air around them as the words carried weight. They were on borrowed time. They both knew it. The guardian's visits and presence was becoming more frequent, as much as Bella loathed the experience. The threat of the Absolute and a cure of the worms keep them on track but eventually, they will have to part ways.

One way or another.

"Just friends?" Shadowheart asked after a long while. Belladonna sat up, taking in their surroundings. Taking in Shadowheart for who the woman was and not just tying her to her faith. She removed her gauntlet, intertwining their hands together. She felt the wound on her hand flair, Shadowheart wincing but Bella brought their hands up to her lips, kissing the wound, acknowledging what they want to be but knowing they cant. 

Shadowheart leaned against her, letting the hums of the automatons fill the air once more.

For now, this was fine.

Tomorrow though...

Belladonna didn't know.

Chapter Text

Three-Quarters of a century ago

Grey clouds loomed overhead as the hot summer air made the sweat on her body feel sticker. Belladonna got up from her prone position, fighting back the pain and the tears that threatened to fall. She picked up the fallen training sword once again to assume first position.

Iliranne stood in front of her, quarterstaff at hand to correct her posture if need be. "What is the first tenet of our oath?" Her mother asked.

"Fight the greater evil," Belladonna recited, moving the sword to its next position followed by the next. "Sworn foe over lesser evil, always chose to fight the greater evil."

"And who is the greater evil?"

"Shar." 

"And the second?" 

"No mercy for the wicked." Belladonna continued with the motions, changing positions for the sword as she went. "Ordinary foes might win our mercy, but sworn enemies do not."

"And who is our sworn enemy?"

"Shar." 

"Thirdly," her mother asked. 

"By any means necessary. My qualms can't get in the way of exterminating my foes."

"And who are you to exterminate in our lady's name?"

"The Disciples of the dark sister, Shar." 

"Lastly," her mother asked. 

"Restitution. If our foes wreak ruin on the world, it is because I failed to stop them. I must help those harmed by their misdeeds." Belladonna felt the crack of the quarterstaff across her knees, then her chest, making her fall on the ground once more. 

"What is our last tenet, Belladonna," Iliranne asked, hovering over her, pining her down with her quarterstaff. Steel-blue eyes met hers with a glare and contempt. Iliranne's pure white robes stood out from the greys and greens of the courtyard, the former matron of the Swords of the Lady looking at her as if she was just another soldier under her command, not her own flesh and blood.

Belladonna gulped, looking up at her mother. "Justice above all. Delivering justice for our Lady in Silver is the more important than our own purity or our lives."

Iliranne removed the staff off her chest, the command to go back to the start coming once again. Beyond the walls, Belladonna could hear the other children playing their games and laughing. Bella gulped, wishing to be with them instead of this training but she obeyed, picking up the sword once more.

Belladonna tried stop body from reacting to the giant statues of Shar that they can now see from the lake. The guardian said nothing but she could hear her mother's voice, different from the one the guardian uses, telling her to cleanse the temple in front of her. To perform her duties and to keep her oath.

It was only after Iliranne's death did she relearn the proper tenets, undoing the bastardized version drilled into her since she returned from the rite of the moon at the age of 11. Phantom pain from the constant training under her mother made her wince as she continued to navigate Gekh's boat to follow the escort that intercepted them on the lake.  

"Are you okay?" Shadowheart asked, Belladonna nodding, not trusting her voice at that moment. She didn't dare look at Shadowheart directly, instead focusing on steering the boat as they approached the dock on the other side.

"Tie off there and take the stairs up to see Thrinn. They can fill you in," Greymon said, spitting on the ground as he walked away, not even checking if they were following.

"The Grymforge," she heard Shadowheart whisper. "I...I thought this was long lost to time itself."

Belladonna moved the boat to the dock, seeing the toppled statues that littered the area. She could see the broken face of Shadowheart's goddess, desiccated as her twin's above  ground. She remembered her father's words, Erkas' voice echoing in her own mind.

"Selûne and Shar are twins," her father explained to her as he bandaged up her bruised arm. "Our lady's light maybe far reaching, but that light will always cast a shadow. As much as your mother tries to instill it in you, don't forget that they are twins. One cannot exist without the other."

Belladonna could feel the tendrils of the shadow clawing at her, especially in this place. Her temple. She had felt this in Selûne's own hallowed grounds but it was far stronger here.  Belladonna closed her eyes briefly, uttering another prayer to her own goddess to forgive her for what she is about to do, what she is about to tap into.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, Karlach giving her a look of concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"The sooner we finish down here, the easier I can breathe." Bella said, letting a stoney façade take over. She looked around as they walked, taking in the destroyed splendor of the temple of Shar, feeling conflicted at its state. She looked over at Shadowheart, face in a permanent frown as they walked passed more toppled statues before a duergar woman stopping them. 

"Newcomers must pay a fee," the dwarf said, keeping an eye on them as they approached. Belladonna stared her down, towering over the dwarf as she stepped closer.

"You're free to try and take it, stone-born," Belladonna said in a low voice. "But I am not giving it to you freely."

Morghal looked up at her, meeting her challenge before laughing. "Finally, a fucking sun-kissed bitch that doesn't cower. I like you." Morghal looked her over again. "You're not as pretentious as that Nere arsehole. What are you doing here?"

"Minthara told us to come down here to find Nere about the elevator to Moonrise," Belladonna lied. "Where is he?"

Morghal laughed once again. "Talk to Thrinn. The one without any shoes on. She'll tell you where Nere is. But I'm sure you'd hear him first."

Belladonna thanked her, going further into the temple to see  the dwarven woman Thulla had warned them about, yelling orders. She could hear muffled yelling from beyond the rubble. Belladonna saw some other gnomes digging at but focused on Thrinn. "You in charge here?"

"And you are?" Belladonna stood her full height, doing her best to look as intimidating as possible. She let the illithid lash out, making Thrinn clutch her head. "Sorry, True Soul. Didn't realize you were coming."

"Nere is late. Minthara sent me to get him. Where is he?"

Thrinn bowed her head, not meeting her eyes. "He's been stuck in a cave in, True Soul. We're trying to get him out now but one of the slaves ran away with the smoke powder."

She could hear Shadowheart scoff behind her, Karlach and Gale opting to stay quiet. "Useless," she heard Shadowheart mutter, making Thrinn glare at her. "Find her then."

"Our scouts have come up with nothing. We've already searched everywhere." Thrinn bit back, Shadowheart leering at her. "You're free to interrogate the slaves if you want but they are more useful digging than talking."

"Which way did she go?" Bella asked, putting on a very annoyed face.

"Viss said she disappeared down by through a set of doors by the docks. Probably fell  down the ravine or died from the spiders further in."

"We'll find her, keep working," Belladonna scoffed, turning to  go back down towards the docks.

They passed a couple of duergar watching them closely, Morghal speaking to them in hushed tones. "Which one is Viss?" Belladonna asked the woman.

"Pisstaker is over there," Morghal pointed to the other side of the docks. "The ugly one with a part of his ear cut off. Brithvar, this is the sun-kissed I told you about."

"Four of them, devilspawn, a pair of round ears and," he took a deep breath, giving Belladonna a gross smirk. "Eladrin...well well well. This Absolute drawing in even your lot."

Belladonna tensed, watching as the man continued. "Look, I don't have a problem with you, not yet anyways. Not many stand up to Morghal here. My problem is with Nere. If you're here to help him, then I don't want to do anything with you."

"And if we're not here to help him?" Shadowheart asked, getting a smile from Brithvar.

"Then we can keep talking," he said, with a lick of his lips. Belladonna could feel her pulse quickening. "Bastard owes us money. Money that's still on him beyond that cave in. Thrinn keeps using my slaves to dig him out, wasting my time when I could be back at Gracklstugh drunk off my arse and fucking already." His attention moved to Belladonna, meeting her eyes. "Help me get my money and we'll leave you alone to explore this shit place in peace. I'm sure the Sharran would like to know what happened to her peers."

"I can just kill you now, you know," Belladonna replied, Brithvar laughing at the threat.

"You could. But you wont make it out of here alive," Brithvar said, spitting on the ground. "What say you, sun-kisser? Free Nere from that hellhole he's in. We kill him together. I keep the gold, you get one less True Soul to compete with."

"We both win," Belladonna said, seriously considering the proposal. "Deal."

Brithvar smiled his creepy smile at her, extending his hand up for a shake. "Viss saw where that runt ran off too. If he doesn't talk, just chuck him in the lake."

"Doesn't he work for you?" Shadowheart asked, Brithvar waving her off.

"Pisstaker is just in it for the gold. If he's not part of the equation, then..." Morghal trailed off, both of them taking the hint.

"Find the girl fast. We have a drow to kill," Brithvar said, Belladonna turning away to find Viss.

"Trusting our enemies again," Shadowheart said to her in elvish. "This gamble might not pay off."

"Keryvian," Belladonna replied, looking back at her. "When your foe offers you a boon, you'd be a fool not to take it.  Nere seems to have crossed Brithvar. Who are we to turn down an unexpected ally."

"Enemies turned allies seems to be something you're good at collecting," Shadowheart teased. "But you're right. Let's go find this missing gnome and collect our query."

Finding Philomeen and convincing her they weren't the enemy took them some time but in the end they managed to get a small pouch of the rune powder to blow Nere out. 

Belladonna passed Brithvar as they came back, giving him a small nod as they went back to the cave in. Thrinn saw them approach, eyes watching them carefully as they approached the slaves.

"Move," Belladonna said, the gnomes scurrying away as she  put the blast power in the rocks, small wick of rope hanging out of it.

She turned around to join the rest in the middle, watching for Brithvar's men to take their positions. "Gale."

"Ignis" Gale said, aiming for the smoke powder. The blast rocked the entire cavern, sending the fallen rocks all different directions, Belladonna parrying the one that was coming for  them with her shield.

Nere stepped out, coughing, shouting orders to exert the small power he has. Belladonna studied the drow man, noticing the former slave mark of one of the drow houses on his neck.

"Finally," he sneered, looking at the slaves angrily. "Worthless slaves. Your incompetence has been my ruin. Nere. Does. Not Fail," he said using a spell to shove a gnome into the lava below them.

"Taking your own failures on slaves," Belladonna said, "Are you over-compensating, an idiot or both?"

Nere growled at her, facing her with unbridled anger. "You care for the weak?"

"Their weakness doesn't play into this since they're slaves. Yours however," Belladonna leaned down, "Minthara sent us. You know how she is when she's angry, don't you?" she watch his façade falter for a second sense of worry, before anger sweeps over him again. 

"Minthara has no hold or power over me, Not anymore." he said. "Thrinn, kill this true soul." Thrinn looked confused between them. "Caring for the weak when we were told to cull them? Your lies may have gotten you this far, imposter, but whatever your life is forfeit here."

Belladonna sighed, feeling the companions steady themselves. She looked behind her, "Brithvar, I think it's time to collect."

"Ay, it is," the dwarf said, whistling for his crew to attack, arrows raining in from the south and the east as she heard Brithvar cast a spell on himself. 

Belladonna pulled out her blade, "Drag Drannor," Belladonna uttered, the blade humming with a maddening shriek as she plunged it into Thrinn's chest, Karlach doing the same with her axe to the duergar next to her.

"Traitors!" Nere yelled out pulling his blades, disappearing from their sight.

Belladonna scanned the battlefield, Brithvar and his crew shooting from a far while some fought up close. She was practically back to back with Karlach at this point when she heard movement from beyond her reach. "Tormentum," she heard Gale cast, flurry of magic missiles hitting Thrinn and some of her men before disappearing to the other side of the   battlefield, beside some of Brithvar's men.

*Where is he?* she asked herself, feeling Karlach move from behind her to charge as Thrinn, taking two swings at the woman. *Where...* she saw him too late, the shimmer of invisibility dissipating as Nere appeared behind Shadowheart stabbing her right through the chest, dagger also plunging into her neck. "Shadowheart!" Belladonna screamed out, sprinting towards them, "Get away from her!"

Nere looked over to her, pulling his weapons out to disappear once again. Bella slid to Shadowheart, pumping her with all her healing, and Shadowheart sputtered. "You're ok...you're ok..."

The rage that she had been suppressing since stepping foot on the temple burned through her, eyes scanning as she felt her body move on its own again. White hot divine power filled her, tendrils of darkness mixed with it as she looked up from Shadowheart's face to see the faint glimmer behind Karlach.

Her body moved, dropping her sword to pick up one of the fallen mauls on the ground, sprinting towards Nere as he missed Karlach with both strikes. Bella channelled all her strength in a leap, coming down with a thunderous smash that echoed through the cavern, the 2nd strike coming down with brilliant divine energy on Nere's chest as she huffed, standing over him. "You..." she glowered, holding the maul by his head. 

Belladonna looked down at the man at her feet, near death and still grinning at her. "Lost little lambs, torn between the light and the darkness..." he taunted, laughing with his bloody mouth. "Two hands tugging, fighting for your very souls...Wont matter...The Absolute's reign will begin soon. Your precious goddesses cannot stop them." 

Bella stepped away from him, still huffing as the last of Thrinn's forces fell. She looked at Nere with contempt, words ringing as Karlach looked between him and her. "Bella..." she heard Karlach call out to her, making her take a deep breath. "Go help Shadowheart. I got him."

"Spaw and the myconids send their regards," Bella said, wiping his blood off her face. She turned away, letting the maul fall back on the floor, hearing Karlach's greataxe stop his laughter for good.

She picked up her discarded sword, going over to where Shadowheart was. She cradled her, catching the cleric off guard at the tenderness of it all. "Bella?" Shadowheart asked weakly, Bella just holding her. 

At that moment, she didn't care about the others or what they would think. 

It was just them...

And Nere's parting words echoing in her mind.

Chapter Text

Shadowheart could feel gnomish eyes watching her but she didn't pay them any attention, looking over the fallen statues and the bodies of her own people from a battle long before the Absolute took over.

They were close to Moonrise now, she was told. The passage open to them as the duergar abandoned their allegiance to the Absolute, opting to go home instead of fighting a fight that wasn't theirs to begin with. She didn't remember much after that, feeling too tired to keep her eyes open as Bella continued to hold her, eyes opening briefly to see Bella smiling at her before drifting to sleep.

How long she was out, she wasn't sure but by the time she woke, Bella had disappeared as did the duergar. The boat they commandeered was gone too, Gale telling her that Bella returned to the other side of the lake to get the rest of their merry band of misfits and would be back soon. He gave her a pat on the shoulder, telling her to rest, leaving her alone again.

But she didn't want to rest. 

There was much of the temple that called out to her, For now, she was content to explore the temple by her lonesome. She moved one of the dead justiciar's skeletons over, hand still clasping the short sword in their hands when she saw a glimmer above her, calling to her. 

I should wait, she thought to herself. She looked above her again to see if she could see what it was but all she could see was dull, rusted metal. Something was up there though.

She heard them before she actually saw them. The sound of barking mixed with laughter made her look out at the water to see the boat returning. Wyll was laughing at poor Astarion as he held onto the chair at the back of the boat, Belladonna doing a double take at her confused as they passed. She gave them a small wave, making her way back to the dock. "Oh thank heavens," she heard Astarion say, practically leaping off the boat onto the dock. He shuddered, Shadowheart watching them from a far with a smile, noting that Astarion very much reminded her of a cat.

"At least help with tying the boat, Astarion!" Bella reprimanded as she tossed the heavy rope to him, landing by his feet. 

"I didn't want to go on the boat in the first place!"

"My, you are all awfully loud," Gale said coming from the other side with Karlach in tow. Karlach helped hitch the boat to one of the dock posts, grabbing some of the gear from Wyll along with Scratch's lead.

Bella continued to argue with Astarion, both common and elvish being thrown out between the two before she turned away. She'll join them later. For now, she still wanted some time to explore this place on her own.

She found a secluded area, overlooking a cut off part of the temple, wondering when this  was all built. Black stone blended into the rocky crags, the glow of lava falling from above joining them far below causing steam to raise.  In the distance she could  see what looked to be a grand entrance, twin statues of the dark lady flanking a fountain. The near-darkness filled her with calm as she took in the sound of water rushing down the various waterways.

There was another entrance seemingly beyond reach just before her. How many of them existed, she wondered, though knowing all was probably forbidden, as was her lady's will. Three statues of Shar stood in her glory, yet only one remaining in tact after all these years.

This must have been a refuge for them. The statues that weren't her lady were definitely of her Dark Justiciars, her chosen, her own dreams realized. She must have been guided here to see this. To restore it after everything was said and done.

She heard her name get called out, making her turn back. She looked over the ravine one last time, looking at Shar's full statue, taking comfort in it before leaving.

She found her way back to where Nere nearly struck her down after their dinner. She managed to slip away after everything was settled, knowing she didn't have any duties or a watch that night. 

Her feet carried her back to the spot, still seeing her own drying blood on the floor. She remembered the look on Bella's eyes, her voice at the exact moment, making her touch the would be scar at the base of her neck. 

They had shared a kiss, multiple at this point, and she was sure the paladin felt as strongly as she did about...whatever this was. Mostly a friend and not really enemies. Lovers was too strong a word but it felt the closest to their undefined relationship. She was drawn to her light, like a moth to a flame, and found herself smiling much more even in her own quiet reflection. 

Belladonna was easy to talk to, easy to be more herself but she found it uneasy at the same time. She was normally hyper-guarded, hyper-vigilant of what she shared. Deception and trickery was part of her tools to get information from people but she felt that she didn't need to be deceptive to Belladonna. When she asked her not to pry about Shar or the artifact, she didn't. Anything she shared freely wasn't used against her, but kept secret between the two of them. She could see there was some parts of Belladonna that was still guarded but not once did she ever use her own weaknesses against her.

How strange it was, to be seen just as herself, unguarded, Shadowheart thought. Bella commented once before that she was a good person with a good heart so she was confused by the devotion to the Lady of Loss. Belladonna had left it at that but the comment had been swirling in her mind as of late, making her question herself when she heard familiar footfalls coming up behind her.

"There you are," she heard a familiar voice, butterflies in her stomach starting. Bella looked at her with concern. "You should get some rest. Today was a long day."

She looked at Belladonna, remembering the emotions she felt about her in the last few days of travel. How she disguised being jealous of Zarys as being upset about the artifact. Astarion's all-knowing look when Belladonna fessed up to sleeping with the Zhentarim agent made her blood boil but she kept it to herself. 

Shadowheart remembered how happy she felt when they were at the cliff together, just chatting the entire night. Last night at the tower...

"You okay?" Belladonna asked, keeping a fair distance among them but she's been able to read her twitches by now. She wanted to come closer.

"I'm fine. Why are you here? You're not on watch tonight."

"I wanted to look for you, to give you this," She held out an onyx statue of Shar, same pose as the rest of the taller more ornate carvings around the temple. "Karlach and I explored the walkways above while you were resting. Took us a while to get through the traps but we found that up there. Found a nice spell for Gale to learn too."

She felt the mark flair, making her wince. A sharp tingling sensation spread from her fingertips. Pain blurred her vision and ushered forth strange half-familiar images kneeling up on cold flagstones, in prayer, tongue tripping over the holy words of Lady Shar. She remembered shying away from interrogating an enemy, and the pain biting through her as punishment.

The sensation faded, and took the images with it. Shadowheart clutched her hand, massaging the dark mark, wondering if that was a reminder that she shouldn't linger on her feelings. Doubt flooded her mind, making her glare at the offered gift. "What's your game, exactly? A Selûnite bearing fits sounds like a trick if I ever heard one."

Belladonna looked at her, eyes going from confused to hurt. She heard her take a deep sigh, still offering the statue to her. "No trick. No ulterior motive. It's just a gift. One I thought you'd like."

"I...Thank you..." She said, taking the offered gift. Bella was more guarded now, Shadowheart regretting her doubt. "Your goddess...surely, she can't approve of what you and I share."

Bella let out a low huff, "No, she probably doesn't but I am wiling to try. I think yours doesn't approve of it either but is more willing to punish you over it." She turned to walk away.

"Bella, I-" she called out but the paladin didn't stop. The wound flared one more time, far shorter than before, making her look at the mural behind her. It was as if the flair was to remind her where she was and who she's pledged her life to.

Everything had moved too quickly for her to process everything until it was too late. They made their way across to where Gale said there was a forge, excited to see a legendary area. Finding the templates for weapons and armour made them sloppy, caught up in the excitement of it all when they descended to the actual forge. They didn't think it could have...should have been guarded from strangers using it.

"One adamantine shield, coming right up!" she remembered Karlach saying, turning the valve to let the lava flow, the rest of them watching, all their guards down when they heard the creaking of metal against metal. She thought it was just the piston, horrified when the forge guardian burst through the gate, nearly sending Karlach flying into the lava.

They didn't rest after the other fight with the magma mephits above. Bella used some of her healing already, hers not as depleted but the fight was dragging. Karlach even in her rage, was faltering. Most of her healing was going to her.

Everything was a blur, the entire fight draining them of every spell, every magic they had. They weren't ready for it and Shadowheart knew it. They figured it out too late and there had to be a sacrifice. Of course Bella volunteered. It was in her nature to do so. She used her last spell to get to the middle after helping Karlach back up.

The scene played out in her mind like a reoccurring nightmare. Bella standing in the middle, firing arrows to keep the guardian's focus on her. Karlach tiredly turning the valve, arm bleeding. She froze, not wanting to obey Bella's command to bring the piston down. In the end, Gale did it, using his last spell to get to the lever.

The sound of the piston was deafening. It still echoed in her mind along with her own screams. The guardian was defeated but Belladonna lay under the piston, unmoving, still cut off from them because of the lava. She was out of spells. They had left the scrolls behind at camp thinking they weren't needed. She kept screaming. She could feel the shadows laughing, claiming another follower of Selûne in its halls.

And for the first time in a long time, she took no comfort in it.

Chapter Text

The minute the lava finally subsided, Shadowheart ran to the middle, desperately trying to put what little healing she had left into the paladin. She invoked her lady's name, the moonwitches name, any god that might be listening but there was no response.

Nothing. 

Karlach was hurt. None of them could carry Belladonna. They dug into the paladin's pouch, finding a couple of potions that helped Karlach enough that she was able to carry her to the lift, the machine groaning under the stress but lifted them back up to the same level as the stairs they had descended from.

Lae'zel and the rest stood at the top, faces all hardened but a sorrow also in their eyes. 

"Halsin! Help!" Karlach cried out, the druid immediately transforming into a crow, transforming back to himself to check on Belladonna. He lifted her up with ease, jumping across the narrow gap to continue bringing her up to where they had fought the enchanted armour, Wyll coming down to help him. They all followed the elder druid up the steps, the rest of their companions waiting for them.

Wyll explained that they heard the piston from the camp, making them curious. They saw from a distance what happened. Heard every command shouted and witnessed her freeze. Shadowheart felt all eyes on her but she kept staring down, not meeting anyone's gaze. They had all witnessed the piston went down for that final silencing ring. 

Shadowheart withdrew into herself, doubt and pain from the fight flooding her mind when she felt a hand against her throat, pinning her against the marble column of the temple.

"Twice," Lae'zel yelled out, growling at her. "You have costed us the paladin TWICE."

"Lae'zel! Now's not the time!" Karlach shouted.

"It is the time, Karlach! Her insubordination has costed us our leader twice now. Were it up to me -"

"It's not up to you!"

"Enough!" Gale shouted over both of them. "We are still in the middle of the forge. We are still not safe. Take this back to camp and we can settle this there."

"And who made you the new leader, wizard?" Lae'zel let her go, fury focusing on Gale instead. "You all lost her twice. The cleric specifically but it was always your group that lost her. Why should we even trust you?"

The argument continued behind her but she tuned them out, following Halsin wordlessly back to camp. The three scrolls of revivify mocked her as she passed Bella's tent. It was far too late now. The scrolls are useless if it was more than a minute. The elevator alone was more than that. The lava subsiding was more than that.

Shadowheart felt sick.

Halsin placed Bella on what used to be a stone table, putting two silver pieces on top of her eyes. Shadowheart looked away, moving towards her own tent but a hand stopped her.

"I know it's hard, and I do not blame you for your choice," Halsin said. "I wouldn't have wanted to make that decision either."

All she could do was nod. She wanted to get away from it all, far from this.

All of this.

She took no comfort in the shadows, which would have been alarming had this been  normal circumstance. She could still hear the laughter in her ears. The dark lady had taken comfort in the victory.

Why did she feel sick from it? She was a Selûnite. Her enemy, right? Whatever budding feelings she had for Belladonna didn't erase the fact she served Selûne, her own goddess' mortal enemy. She should be happy.

Why was this causing her so much pain then? Like something was ripping her from the inside. It was agony.

It was love.

The revelation made her stop mid-step. She was in love with Belladonna. When it had crossed from infatuation to love, she didn't know. 

The pain she was in was because she couldn't bare the thought of continuing this without her.

It was clear that Bella kept them all in check. Kept them balanced and focused. She was diplomatic with all of them, trying to balance all their needs and without her, the team had already started to fall apart. She could still hear Gale and Lae'zel going at it but she couldn't care about that right now.

Shadowheart made her way to her tent, closing the flap before starting to take off her armour. With practised ease,  she checked herself of other injuries but her eyes fell on a book she had borrowed from Bella. 

There were little things that reminded her of the woman in and around her tent: A stray strip of leather used to tie up Bella's hair, the scissors she had used to cut the paladin's hair before Astarion took over, telling her that she was doing it wrong. Bella's spare blanket she had lent her when it was particularly cold the one night they were outside. She had promised to return it but never did.

Her eyes fell to the statue of Shar sat at the corner, a gift from the fallen paladin, her words echoing in her mind. "No trick. No ulterior motive. It's just a gift. One I thought you'd like."

She collapsed into her bedroll, hugging the blanket tightly, letting the sounds of her own sobs put her to sleep.

She woke several hours later still numb from all of it.

She wanted to forget all of this. The pain. The love she felt that was now torn away by her own indecision.

But she doesn't think her lady will allow her.

Guilt occupied every crevice of her mind. She couldn't obey the command to bring down the piston, making Gale do the impossible.

Gods...she didn't even think about Gale or Karlach and how the rest of them were feeling.

Shadowheart wouldn't blame them if they didn't want anything to do with her now. She stepped out of her tent, looking around her secluded spot before going up the steps.

Gale was sitting off to the side with Wyll and Karlach, discussing something in hushed tones. Astarion stood stoically over Belladonna's body, Halsin still dressing some of her more superficial wounds while Lae'zel...

The minute she stepped closer, Lae'zel was on her, shortsword in hand. "You." Shadowheart brushed past her, trying to get to Halsin to help him but the Githyanki didn't let her pass. Astarion was watching them carefully, Karlach already moving towards them. 

Shadowheart didn't have the energy to argue with the Gith, only giving her a glare. She was still too tired for any of this. She moved and sat beside Bella's body, the paladin now just in her camp clothes, armour discarded by her feet. Karlach moved Lae'zel away, Astarion finishing his silent vigil before walking away as well, giving her one last look. She held onto Bella's hand, now bitterly cold compared to her relative warmth. 

She knew Bella was a sun elf, but Brithvar has made her hesitate with the Eladrin comment. Not that she could ask her right now anyways.

She stopped to consider it before but shook the idea out of her mind. If she had questions, she would ask Bella herself. 

Dinner came and went, no one really in the mood for food. Halsin discussed with them the various spells that could possibly bring Belladonna back but it would be costly. Finding the materials, even down here would take some time. Trading the diamond was a viable option but neither she nor Halsin knew the spell to do it.

They had options, but finding the materials and the right person do cast the spell was not something they had time for. No one was willing to entertain the prospect of burying or leaving Bella behind. Even Astarion was willing to go an find the diamond for it.

Gale buried himself in more of his books, trying to figure out how to learn the spell himself, though it was outside his domain of study. Astarion was fighting with Wyll and Karlach on whether or not to call on Mizora or Raphael to do something. Anything. 

She couldn't hear them from where they stood but she knew their reservations. Bella wouldn't want the devils to get hold of her. Avernus is not where she was meant for. She may have hated Selûne but she would fight the devils for her soul herself. She loved Belladonna enough to give her a proper burial once they were out of here, if it came down to it.

Still she held out hope that something can be done. She wasn't ready to let her go.

Not yet.

Her memories went to Mayrina, suddenly finding the woman's plight to be their own. "Upon my oath, I must do what's right." She remembered Belladonna reciting as she snapped the hag's wand in half.

She wasn't bound by an oath like the paladin. Shadowheart ignored the flaring of the wound on her hand, looking around to see if Gale could find the hag once more. Ethel did taunt them before they killed her, saying they would come back. Could come back.

She looked around to see Withers watching her closely. She remembered where they met him, how he had asked Belladonna what a life was worth. His eyes closed briefly, speaking something in a whisper but once he opened it, he made his way to her.

He stood over Belladonna, watching her and the fallen paladin.

"What are you-" she started to ask when he raised his hand to stop her. He took the coins off Bella's eyes, chanting something the entire time when Bella started to float.

"Stop!" Shadowheart yelled out, making everyone turn to her. "What are you doing to her?" 

"Worry not, child," his voice was level, commanding. It sent a chill down Shadowheart's spine. It was as if he was staring right through her. "Thou hast asked for a reply, didst thou not?"

She felt her heart skip a beat. "What...What do you mean?"

"Invoked the names of the gods, you did." he said, looking back to Belladonna. "Hers hast answered." Her wound flared, making her wince and grasp her hand. Shar was not happy with the news. "Thine own goddess this temple maybe," Withers gestured around them. "But her soul, is bound to her divine sister."

Selûne.

Selûne answered her prayers.

Shadowheart cried out in more pain, as if a stake was being driven into her hand, pushing ever deeper. Gale moved towards them but she held up her hand to stop him. 

"Bring her back," she said to the lich. "Tell the Moonw...Selûne to bring her back. She can't have her. Not yet," she felt the tears start to fall again. "Bring her back...please."

A scythe appeared in Wither's hand, ethereal and glowing. He looked at her, Shadowheart giving him a nod. 

"Let it be so."

Chapter Text

There was silence. Peace.

She felt like floating, not in the same way as the trance or if she was flying with a spell. Just floating.

Bella opened her eyes to see herself surrounded by fog. No pain. No burning. Just emptiness.

It wasn't the dreamscape that her dream visitor occupied. This was different but familiar at the same time, like a darker echo of the material plane. She felt shadows coming for her, clawing desperately where she was as she passed, moving faster than she expected through the air when she suddenly stopped, landing on her feet.

She walked forward, the fog lessening at every step until she was in an empty field. A woman with silver hair was before her, standing over a dark-haired man sitting on a rock, sharpening a sword. A soft smile graced the woman's though it held pain. The man just stared at her, studying her for what felt like a lifetime before the one sitting stood up. 

"Another Alenthiel," the dark-haired man spoke, sending a shiver down Belladonna's spine. "I've been told to expect you. But not this soon."

"It's not her time," the woman spoke, Belladonna knowing that voice. It was the voice that stopped her from attacking Shadowheart on the nautiloid. The same voice that has been guiding her most of her life. She knelt out of instinct, not looking up at her goddess, at Selûne herself. "Your part in this is not yet complete. Far from it."

Belladonna wanted to reply, but nothing came out. *I've failed you* she thought. *I've failed to kill the Sharran. I've not held up my oath. My duty.*

"You have not failed me. Your oath is not a sentence that you must crucify yourself on. Vengeance it not your path, young paladin. Yours must be of redemption. Of hope and new beginnings. Continue on the path you put yourself on. Follow your heart. It is not leading you astray." 

Belladonna looked up, Selûne's eyes caring but hardened. She could see her goddess' resolve in her words. She wasn't done. Not yet.

The man sighed, looking past her. "Take her back. She has much left to do."

"Let it be so," a voice behind her said. Familiar but she couldn't place it.

Bella looked behind her to see no one, looking back to see the two gone. She then felt the ground give out from under her, like she was falling, drowning until someone reached up to help her up.

Bella breathed deeply, huffing as she took bearings of her surroundings. She was back at the camp, the same Underdark camp they had set up when Shadowheart nearly fell in battle. She looked up at many worried eyes that soon turned to relief. There was a lot of pain coursing through her body as she forced herself to sit up, only the be gently pushed back down by Shadowheart. "Don't exert yourself. Just lay down. Rest."

"Tis not your time yet, young paladin," Withers said, Belladonna looking up at him in disbelief. "Thou has been given another chance."

"Who are you?" she asked him, the wraith already walking away.

"A guardian, nothing more."

He left with that. Bella laying back down on the stone slab they had set her on. 

She died.

Selûne herself spoke to her. Commanded the dark haired man to send her back. That she had a larger part to play.

Like a pawn getting across the lance board. It was her choice now, on what she was to do. What she was to become.

**Yours must be of redemption. Of hope and new beginnings. Continue on the path you put yourself on. Follow your heart. It is not leading you astray.**

She looked to Shadowheart, the cleric clearly still distraught over what happened. She lifted her hand up, touching her face gently to wipe a tear away. "I'm here."

"I'm here."

It took a couple of days of recovery before Halsin and Shadowheart allowed her to actually move about on her own again, not that they let her move about much. Parts of her still hurt but she wanted to be up and about. Bella wasn't used to being immobile for long periods of time unless she was in one of her researching moods. This wasn't one of those times.

She looked down at her lap, the book they had found in the old temple open to the last page. None of the gods listed in there matched the man that was beside her but he commanded respect. He knew exactly who she was. Which of the death gods was he? She shuddered at the thought of any of them taking an interest in her outside her own goddess but she was certain he was a god.

**"Another Alenthiel,"* Bella remembered him saying. *"I've been told to expect you. But not this soon."**

Her mother's last name carried weight. She often refused to give it out, carrying ancient Elven expectations with it to a point that it was now a burden. One of duty, honour and of blood. 

She closed the book and set it down beside her, opening the other book on Selûnite orders. She grabbed the quill nearby, writing down every Alenthiel that had served Seûne, drilled into her as if it was a mantra.

She had often joked before that, were it not for their stubborn pride, her ancestors would have followed Lolth when the Seldarine fractured. Being raised in a very Matriarchal household, endlessly devoted to one goddess to a point of being fanatics. 

She wrote down her mother's name, her sisters names and eventually her own name. She sighed, looking at the long list of women and wondered if Selûne even cared about their sacrifices. Selûne sent her back to complete her task, seemingly even death not stopping her mission. Belladonna yawned, making herself comfortable on her own bedroll again, staring up at her tent. She was told by her own goddess that her part of this wasn't done. Selûne herself met her at the Fugue Plane, that she was certain of. 

Footsteps outside of her tent snapped her out of her thoughts, hearing the rest of the group returning from the myconid camp that she heard discussed earlier. She could hear Gale speaking to Shadowheart, Bella trying to tune out the other sounds to focus on their voices.

"Balms. Blurg seems to think they would help," Gale said. She couldn't hear the rest but she knew the balms were for her. She tried to get up but groaned loudly when pain stopped her, her lower back tingling from the sensation. They didn't have time for this, she berated herself. They were already on borrowed time. She needed to get better, move and help them find a cure and figure out what this Absolute wanted.

Her tent flap opened, Shadowheart peering in to see her trying to get up. "Bella..."

"I know, I know. Don't over exert myself." Belladonna moved slower, feeling the pain still throbbing but she managed to sit up. Shadowheart glared at her, looking down at the forming bloodstain on her shirt. "Shit..."

"I'll be right back," Shadowheart said exasperatedly, leaving her alone for a few minutes before coming back, setting down some clean bandages, balm bottles and a bowl of water beside her without a word. "Remove your shirt, I need to tend to your wound."

"You don't have to do this. I have my own healing spells that can help me through this if you hate this so much."

"I don't hate this. I don't hate you," Shadowheart said, sitting behind her. Belladonna lifted her shirt up, Shadowheart undoing the bandages around the healing but aggravated wound before pouring more healing into it. Belladonna put her hand on top of Shadowheart's, pouring her own magic as well when she felt Shadowheart's lips on her shoulder, kissing a previous wound, now just a scar. "I don't want to lose you again."

Shadowheart pulled away, wound sealing up under both their magics. She put the balm on, bandaging her up again. "Rest. I'll get Gale to prestidigitate your shirt for you. I'll bring your food when its ready."

Bella nodded, laying back down to fall into another dreamless trance.

Bella raised eyebrow, amused by the makeshift tray Shadowheart had used to bring both their bowls of stew on. "Couldn't you just get someone to help you with carrying this?" she asked, taking the crate lid offered to her.

"Hush you," Shadowheart said with a smile. "Karlach helped with most of it." She set the wine bottle down on the crate lid, sitting herself down at the end of Belladonna's sleeping bag before reaching out to grab the two goblets that was left outside the tent. "Mushroom and rothé stew with some red wine."

"Did we trade for the rothé meat?"

"There was a trader in the myconid camp apparently. We lost some good wheels of cheese for this." They sat in relative silence, Shadowheart flicking through the book by her feet, noticing a page ear marked at the corner. 

"Suppose you'd be interested in that," Bella said, noticing the book she was reading. "I can tell you more about them, if you like."

"I..." Shadowheart hesitated, Bella noticing her want to make an offensive remark but pulled back. "I suppose it doesn't hurt to know about the enemy."

Belladonna sighed, "I think by now, you know I'm not your enemy."

"The rest of our lot still are though." Shadowheart replied, looking back down to the page. "You're a Moon Knight. Is all your family part of the order?"

"No," Bella replied. "My sisters and my mother are...were of a different order. Father is ranger of Rillifane Rallathil not Selûne. Worshipped Selûne to appease my mother."

"Black sheep of the family then, are you?"

Belladonna laughed at that. "Possibly why my sisters don't get along well with me. Mother trained me to be like her, like them, but Father tried to balance her as much as he could, which she hated. Couldn't mould me to be like my sisters or the rest of the women of her family. Still ended up in the service of Selûne, not the way she planned though."

"What did she have planned for you?" Shadowheart asked, setting down her now empty bowl on the crate lid. 

"I could show you, if you like," Belladonna offered. "Use your powers." She felt Shadowheart connect to her mind, Bella letting her see her memories. Memories of her training with her sisters, neither of them letting up on a young Belladonna. She shared the memory of her mother she remembered recently, Bella stopping the memories before they went further. "Coddled Selûnite right?" she couldn't help but give a bitter smile. 

"Blind fanatical faith has disastrous consequences," Bella said, setting her bowl down to hug her knees. "I've been trying to unlearn what how I was raised. Trying to be better than them but still be in my Lady's service. It's...a work in progress. All of this," she gestured around them, "has been a true test of how far I've come. The blind virtuous rages, that's what my mother wanted me to be all the time." she laughed bitterly. "Gods, I've failed so badly but she sent me back here, to finish this mission she set me on. And all I can do is obey and keep giving it my all."

Shadowheart moved closer to her, Belladonna accepting her embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around the woman that she loved. "I want to be selfish, just this once," Bella whispered. "But I don't think I can be."

"Why not?" Shadowheart asked. She loved Shadowheart, she wasn't going to deny it anymore but this was her own goddess.

"I want to be with you, to see where this will all lead," she released Shadowheart to bring up the wounded hand. "But I also don't want to keep hurting you, whether through this or my own actions." She leaned down for a kiss, Shadowheart leaning in for it, stopping after a heartbeat.

"I lost you. In that moment, I thought of your last words to me. Even if she punishes me, I want to try this. Try us," Shadowheart replied, leaned up again to place a chaste kiss on Bella's lips. "I want whatever this is."

They continued to just hold each other for sometime, finally breaking apart when Wyll started calling out for the night's watch. Shadowheart started gathering their bowls they had used, placing them on the crate lid when Belladonna stopped her.

"Stay with me tonight?" Bella asked, stopping Shadowheart in her tracks. "I almost lost you to Nere. I just want you close. Please."

"We'll see." Shadowheart hesitated, giving her a quick kiss before gathering their bowls and goblets onto the crate lid, leaving with the items to help clean up. Belladonna managed to get one foot out of the tent before Lae'zel descended on her, forcing her back into the tent with a huff.

"Both the Halsin and Shadowheart have told you to rest, so you will rest," Lae'zel said. "Once you are better, we can move on and we can train once again."

"But it's my turn for watch," Belladonna argued but Lae'zel only sneered at her. 

"Rest. We'll manage."

Belladonna frowned but sat back down on her bedroll, opting to read one of the many tomes she and Gale had collected since this adventure started. She had gotten a fair bit in when Shadowheart returned, pillows in tow. "Move over," Shadowheart commanded, Bella shifting in the bedroll to give her space.

"You're staying?"

"You asked didn't you?" Shadowheart replied, "Besides, this will just make it easier to bandage your wound in the morning."

"If you wanted me out of my shirt, you can just ask," Belladonna smiled, settling in for the night. Shadowheart turned to her side, Bella wrapping an arm around her waist possessively. "Thank you."

Belladonna held her close until she felt Shadowheart's breathing even out, knowing she was asleep. "Ai Armiel Telere Maenen Hir," Belladonna whispered. 

Tomorrow, they were to make it for Moonrise and face the bigger threat there. But tonight, she was happy to hold Shadowheart in her arms, wishing for this moment to last longer.

Chapter Text

Belladonna stood off to the side, listening closely while Elminster explained to Gale why he was there. 

Elminster Aumar himself was at their camp. If this was normal circumstances, she would have been delighted to entertain him however these were not normal circumstances. They had found him in the passage way that lead out of the Underdark to Moonrise Tower asking about Gale making them double back to escort him to their camp grounds. 

Gale was apprehensive on seeing one of the world's greatest wizards with them but he listened to the old man. She could tell the others were curious but kept their distance for a semblance of privacy. Even Astarion kept away, which was rare. 

Mystra's name was thrown out multiple times, Belladonna zoning out until the name was dropped. "So Mystra knows of our plight?" she asked the two wizards.

"She knows what Gale holds in his chest and what is at stake. It seems like most of the gods, Seldarine included, are shaken by the appearance of this Absolute and the swiftness it has gain in followers," Elminster clarified. "Old friend, I know you were once her chosen, her lover. Your hubris has gotten you cast out from that position but she has not forgotten you. She has granted me the ability to stabilize the orb if you agree to use it to put an end to the Absolute."

Belladonna shook her head. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that part?"

Gale sighed, "Yes, I was Mystra's lover."

"No. That I will talk to you about privately later. Repeat the last part again, Elminster," Belladonna asked.

"She's asked of Gale to use the orb against the Absolute," Elminster repeated, face solemn. "I'm sorry, Gale. It was her command." Elminster's glowed, speaking in a language she didn't know when Gale glowed the same colour. Relief flooded Gale, feeling where the orb was before he glared at his old friend.

Bella's jaw clenched. Gale was just another pawn to another god in this deadly game. "We will find a way to defeat the Absolute without costing you your life. I swear it."

"Glad to have you on my team, unlike others," Gale said with a leer. "Nice to see you again, Elminster. Always a pleasure."

The high wizard frowned but said nothing more. He bowed, doing a handful of gestures before disappearing from their camp.

Belladonna let out a groan. "Fantastic! We have another god meddling in all of this!"

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. The gods must be shaken up badly if they're out sending their champions, chosen ones and...well...me." Gale said, rubbing his fingers on this temples. "We'll talk later. I'm sure you have questions that I hope I can answer. You have to find the path to Moonrise. I have to process this."

Belladonna nodded, moving to the exit of the camp, Karlach, Lae'zel and Shadowheart waiting for her. "Well, that was something."

"Ckh. This Mystra does not know what she is asking. Gale setting himself off with this bomb is pointless. It will not stop the ilithids." Lae'zel growled out. 

"For once, I agree with Lae'zel." Shadowheart said, falling in step with Belladonna. 

"One of the Nine hells just froze over," Karlach joked, getting two glares at the same time.

"Let's keep going. The sooner we get to Moonrise and figure all this non-sense out, the better."

They stepped out into the Shadow-cursed lands, Belladonna immediately feeling like her senses pinging with great evil. She could feel the tendrils of shadow clawing at her, pulling her in multiple ways until she was able to cast light on her shield. They all stopped briefly to light a couple of torches before continuing, keeping most of the shadows at bay. 

She watched closely as Shadowheart stepped away from them, eyes closing briefly as if she was taking in her surroundings, taking in the shadow curse herself. Belladonna reminded herself that, despite their utterly complicated status as lovers, Shadowheart was still a Sharran. She was trained to embrace darkness and loss. If her intuition about the curse was right, this was Shar's curse on this land. Of course it would make sense for her to protect one of her daughters and claw at Bella.

It made her sick thinking about Shar and Shadowheart's relationship. She's seen Shadowheart for who she is. She's kind and gentle with a good heart. Misguided she may be by Shar, but Bella knew that there was more to her than what Shar had shaped her to be.

Shadowheart confided in her one of the few memories she could remember. Of her alone in the woods, being chased by a wolf. Sharrans saving her from death. The memory faded but Belladonna noted that it was like her own Rite of the Moon. She even said as much but Shadowheart scoffed at the idea when she pointed out the moonstone from the memory.

Her hand wound flared a couple of times, Belladonna noting that it was whenever Selûne was mentioned. Shadowheart explained her own training and that the wound, as much as it hurts, was a symbol of Shar's perverted way of showing her love. And that, even through the pain, she still wanted to be one of Shar's chosen elites: A Dark Justiciar.

Belladonna remembered her own studies, everything her mother tried to instill on her was to fight the dark knights. They were probably the ones that lead the slaughter at Selûne's Temple at Moonhaven. Belladonna could feel herself getting angry at the thought but she pushed it down. Losing herself again to her anger was the last thing she wanted to do, especially after their recent ordeal.

She heard screaming, all of them running to an outcrop to see other people, armed adventurers looking around below them. She lit the cauldron near where they stood before hearing the scream again. "That wasn't them," she said, unsheathing her sword.

"It was the shadows," Shadowheart said, hearing the screech again before they saw something lurch out and attack the group below.

"Doesn't matter. Help them."

It took a while for them to defeat the shades, unfortunately losing one of the Harpers that they had come to defend. Lassandra offered to guide them to the Last Light Inn, an apparent refuge and Belladonna felt like it was their safest bet.

"We're also looking for a mountain pass," she asked Lassandra. "We have business with a Githyanki Creche."

"We can give you a map of what we've scouted out but we haven't encountered any other Gith other than your friend there."

Bella looked back at Lae'zel, sneer on the woman's face but she kept quiet. "That would be a start. Thank you."

"Come, we're nearly there. We should hurry. The shadows are stronger after nightfall."

They followed Lassandra to the Inn, Belladonna noticing what seemed to be a protective barrier around the area, shining in silvery divine energy. Familiar divine energy. She felt Shadowheart bristle but she didn't say anything. 

"An area with no shadows?" Karlach asked for all of them.

"We've been lucky. The cleric's been keeping it up for a weeks now. She must be exhausted but it hasn't failed." Lassandra explained, navigating down some small cliffs to get to the bridge.

Belladonna crossed the threshold and breathed a deep sigh of relief. The tendrils that clawed at her stayed beyond the barrier, the almost full moon in perfect view now. "Stop! Not another foot forward. Hands up where we can see them!" one of the guards, another Harper called out.

"She's with me, Elifer," Lassandra said, the rest of the Harpers walking past them. "She and her group saved our lives out there."

The woman relaxed, Elifer turning away. "Come then, the High Harper is going to want to meet you." Lassandra nodded for them to go, following her team. "Jaheira!"

"Wait what?" Belladonna heard from behind her.

An older half-elf turned around, staring down Elifer before conjuring up some magic, binding all their group with vines. "High Harper, I take it?" Belladonna asked, feeling the vines tighten. "Weird way of saying hello."

The high Harper continued to stare at her. "Hello," she greeted with a cold stare and a whistle, Belladonna suddenly seeing the other Harpers go on a defensive stance. 

"We saved your scouts, High Harper." Belladonna said. "Upon my oath-"

"They've taken many forms, these True Souls. Farmers, children, self-righteous paladins" Jaheira said, pulling out a familiar looking worm. "But if there's one thing that we know," Belladonna feels her mind lash out, the worm squirming even more when one of it's kind is near by. "It knows its own kind." Belladonna huffed, feeling the tadpole squirm back into silence. "You should have never come here, True Soul."

"I'm...Not..."

"Stop!" she heard a voice call out. "They're the ones who saved us!""

"Mol!" Karlach greeted, vines still gripping the rest of them tightly.

"They're the ones who protected the Emerald Grove?" Jaheira asked.

"Yup! They didn't leave a goblin standing. Saved some of my friends too, one from that bitch of a witch and one from Harpies. Didn't even rat us out to the other druids." Mol turned to Jaheira. "I trust here with my life."

Jaheira looked at the tiefling child and the group, letting the spell go. "How? A True Soul with a mind of her own? That shouldn't be possible."

Belladonna rubbed her neck, feeling if there was a cut from the vine. "You'll have to take my word for it, High Harper."

Jaheira looked her up and down, studying her. "You seem familiar."

Belladonna laughed bitterly. "Fair skinned, silver haired version of me maybe?"

Jaheira took a step closer, Belladonna looking at her directly with mismatched eyes. "Well I'll be. You're Erkas' kid!"

Bella stepped back, taken off-guard by her father's name. "You know my father?"

"Good man. Good ranger. Tell me young Elteth, is he still with that Lunatic?"

"Mother passed 30 years ago," Bella said. "She is in the Moonmaiden's grace."

"I see. My condolences." Jaheira waved the other Harpers off. "Go, we'll talk more inside. I have a feeling you have a lot of questions, and I do too."

"We have more companions, High Harper. I can send word for them. We're actually travelling with the archdruid, Halsin."

"First of all, call me Jaheira." Jaheira said. "Second of all, why is the Archdruid of the Emerald Grove travelling with you?"

"He's looking into the tadpoles as well. Wanted to know how it all started and also asked for our help with figuring out the curse beyond the barrier," Belladonna explained. 

"Send for them. Give me a description of your other companions and I'll send a team to look for them the same way you came." Jaheira nodded at Elifer. "Meet me inside when you're ready. I think there's some people in there that you might know as well."

Bella nodded, giving Elifer descriptions of the men, Shadowheart handed her some parchment and ink, counting out the words for the sending spell.

*Gale, ok to come up. Light torches. Shadow curse is strong and it hurts. Met some Harpers. They will bring you to the inn*

She gave it to Shadowheart, looking over it as she took out the sending stone. She could see Shadowheart hesitate but sent the message to the rest  of them. The response was immediate.

*Fantastic news. Not about the shadow-curse but about the inn. See you in a few hours.*

"You okay?" Bella asked as they walked away from the Harper captain.

"Yes...no. I'm not sure." Shadowheart said. "Out there...It felt like I was protected. Like the Shadows were protecting me from the curse. It must be a sign. That she loved me. Her shadows protected me."

"And in here?" Belladonna asked, looking up at the dome surrounding the area.

"I feel fine," Shadowheart replied, hand immediately flaring. "It hurts." Belladonna watched carefully, counting the seconds that it took for the wound to stop pulsing. Shadowheart could see her concern. "I'm fine. I promise." It finally stopped. 

30 seconds. Too long for her own liking but Bella knew her own healing couldn't cure it.

Shar's way of keeping Shadowheart in line. She loathed it but could do nothing.

They caught up with some of the Tieflings outside, finding out that they were ambushed as they went through. Zevlor and at least half the group taken to Moonrise Towers or slaughtered on the road.

Everything was pointing them to Moonrise. Bella thanked Dammon for the info, making her way to the inn proper, promising Karlach that they would look for another scrap of infernal iron for her engine once the others joined them. 

"This is Jaheira, mate! Jaheira herself!" Karlach bounced enthusiastically. 

"Karlach, calm yourself." Lae'zel chided, Bella noticing no hint of malice in her words. "Who is this Jaheira?"

"One of the heroes of Baldur's Gate! Saved it twice from disaster. Fought against Sarevok and with him. It's complicated but she's a bloody legend! Her and Minsc were our heroes!"

Belladonna remembered the stories she heard of the High Harper, trying to remember if her father ever spoke of her. She remembered a trip to Baldur's Gate when she was younger. Remembered visiting a house she and her father visited but she was told to play outside in the garden. She didn't remember much from that time other than sitting by the river.

Belladonna just smiled at how happy Karlach was, watching her flail around explaining the living legend to Lae'zel. Lae'zel calmed Karlach down enough, promising to listen to the rest after their meeting with the High Harper.

Bella looked around her, feeling the wind around her again. They spent far too long in the Underdark, far too long for her own liking. The wind felt nice. The openness being outside, under the moonlight was freeing. This was a relief after all they had been through. 

She looked over at Shadowheart, face still in a state of worry and confusion. She stood out underneath the light of the area. As if Selûne was highlighting her, making Belladonna acutely aware to keep a closer eye on her. There was something more to this draw, this pull but Belladonna couldn't help but admire Shadowheart's beauty in the moonlight. She fell back until Shadowheart was by her side. "We'll figure this out, I promise," she reassured her.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Bella."

Chapter Text

Jaheira wasn't by her table when they entered the inn, being told that she will be back shortly. Karlach and Lae'zel wandered away to trade some of the items they had gathered in the Grymforge, hoping they could get more potions to distribute amongst the rest of the team. 

Bella heard Jaheira's voice coming back into the inn, setting down a crate beside the two young tieflings manning the bar. "Don't over charge people for drinks but don't give them out freely as well."

"But what if they saved us?" one of the children asked.

"Then just one free drink." Jaheira instructed, the children nodding. Jaheira watched them approach, nodding again to the children who started pouring them some pints. "Not sure if you want to talk to me first or talk to your fellow Selûnite. Isobel should be upstairs in her room. Ask her for a protection spell if you're going to venture out of the dome."

"Isobel?" Belladonna questioned. She searched her mind to remember anyone named Isobel but came up blank. 

"She's kept this place safe. Who am I to question a cleric offering refuge from the shadows," Jaheira said. "Speak to her in her chambers if you want more answers."

Belladonna nodded, trying to remember those who came from Neverwinter down before her group. There was no one named Isobel with them, although she could have been from Waterdeep. She looked over to Shadowheart, her lover saying everything with the pout on her face. She waved for Karlach and Lae'zel to follow them, waiting at the top of the steps before continuing.

She opened the door to a grand chamber, steps slowing just enough to witness the woman in front of her, short grey-white hair performing the rite of sanctity. Belladonna held up her hand, stopping the rest of her team from proceeding, bowing her head as Isobel finished the last gestures. Isobel started to cough, Belladonna just watching the woman when she spoke.

"I didn't realize I had an audience," Isobel said as she turned, walking back into the room. Belladonna gulped, noticing the armour of a Silverstar, highest ranking clerics of the Church of Selûne. Rank mattered again and suddenly, she felt her training kick in.

"May Selûne guide your steps in the night," Belladonna recited. 

"And bring them to the new dawn," Isobel replied, a smile gracing her face. "If you are who I think you are, then your a a most welcome sight, my dear comrade-in-arms." She looked beyond Belladonna, to the rest of the party, eyes falling to Shadowheart. There was a look of recognition, Shadowheart's armour and headband not really hiding anything, especially for Selûnites trained on looking out for them. "You keep rather interesting company, Moon Knight."

Belladonna flinched at the use of her title. She could feel the rising tension in the air. Isobel's fingers twitched, Shadowheart's frown deepening, knowing she wanted to say something but was holding herself back. "She's an invaluable teammate, Silverstar. She has saved my life more than I can count at this point. I personally vouch for her and the rest of them." Isobel nodded, eyes not leaving Shadowheart. Belladonna positioned herself to block Isobel if it came down to it. She hoped it wouldn't come down to it. "We just want these parasites out of our heads. I made a promise, Silverstar, and I intend to keep it, even to an enemy."

Isobel continued to study Shadowheart before looking at Belladonna. Years of experience told Belladonna to yield under the gaze of the Silverstar but she didn't. Highest ranking member they may be but this was against her team. Her chosen family. She met Isobel's challenge, the cleric giving her a nod of approval. "I trust your word," Isobel turned her gaze to her.

"Belladonna of House Alenthiel," she introduced herself, Isobel's eyebrows shooting up. 

"A blessing indeed," Isobel sighed a sigh of relief but also sorrow. "I hear you are to be our offence, your ailment allowing you to pass amongst them but not be influenced by this Absolute."

"All true, Silverstar. Though I wish it wasn't." Belladonna admitted. "Our enemy believe us to be True Souls," Belladonna explained. "Everything we have been through, has pointed us to Moonrise. Jaheira said we were to ask you for a protection spell if we were to venture out of the dome." 

Isobel's eyes closed, light coming to the tips as she held our her palm, covering them all with a protection spell. Belladonna felt the a wave of what she could only describe as moonlight envelop her, as it Selûne herself was casting this on them. "Should help but not in the deepest darkness. Speak to the Harpers as they have been scouting on how Ketheric's forces traverse the Shadow-curse unharmed. They could use your help."

"Selûnite Magic. Dark Lady forgive me," Shadowheart said, Belladonna shooting her a pleading look to not start anything. 

"Good nose. Like a nasty little terrier." Isobel seethed, Belladonna feeling the tension rising again.

"Thank you, Silverstar," Belladonna cut in before Shadowheart could retort. "Anything else we should know?"

Isobel hesitated. "The man doing all of this...His name is Ketheric. Ketheric Thorm." Belladonna's jaw clenched. Throm. Traitors. She could feel her blood boiling again. "He is a frightening man. He's betrayed our Goddess for," Isobel's eyes landed on Shadowheart once again. "hers. But I fear he's turned away her as well. Our twin goddesses may not see eye to eye but in this, I feel you both are necessary to take him down. While you're busy in the Tower, I'll be sure to-"

Belladonna senses tingled, sharing a look of concern with Isobel. "Something's wrong..." she heard her say, Belladonna drew her sword, the rest of her group following suit. 

The sound of flapping wings stopped only with a thud on the balcony. The Flaming Fist landed, dark feathered wings making Belladonna growl out as he stood up, proud and smirking. Fallen deva born. The wound on her neck throbbed, a reminder of the last time she fought one. "Hello, Isobel."

"Marcus?" Isobel questioned, Belladonna feeling the man pulse out with his own parasite, trying to make all those in the room submit. Belladonna pushed against it, gritting her teeth as she pushed back.

"Get back! He's one of them!" she yelled out, Isobel immediately understanding what was happening, taking her spear into her own hands. Marcus' smirked deepened, letting out a howling roar, demons suddenly swarming the inn. "Karlach!" 

"On it!"

Belladonna lifted the writhing parasite from Marcus' dead body, placing it in the waiting jar Shadowheart held. She looked over her lover, bloody and bruised but nothing too deeply concerning. Shadowheart met her eyes, still in battle mode but there was care behind her gaze. She brushed some blood off Shadowheart's face, Shadowheart leaning into it despite still being surrounded by fallen demons.

"Belladonna, a word please," Isobel asked, turning back to the balcony. Belladonna flinched once again, remembering where they were and who else was in the room, She gave the rest of them a quick nod, following Isobel. Bella closed the door, Isobel playing with a trinket in her hands. Isobel spoke in Celestial. "House Alenthiel isn't regarded too warmly in certain circles."

"I am of that house but I am far from a Lunatic," Belladonna retorted. Isobel studied her, Belladonna crossing her arms. "Rank be damned, Isobel, you have no right to judge me right now. We just saved you and the rest of the people here."

"Fair enough," Isobel said, hand still fidgeting with the trinket. "House Alenthiel and House T-," she hesitated, Belladonna raising an eyebrow. "Our families reputations preceed either of us. Forgive me when I say I am surprised that one of your lineage, your house, has fallen for a Sharran."

"Please spare me the lecture," Belladonna replied, leaning against the door. "We were both captured by the ilithids. This parasite forced us to cooperate with each other. Our feelings grew from trusting one another in this damned path we were both set on."

Isobel stayed silent as Belladonna let out a sigh. "I've prayed, pleaded with the Moonmaiden every night to justify it. To give me a reason for all of this. I received my answer when I died. Selûne herself was there and pushed me back. If all of this is by her design then I have no choice but to accept it. If you are against it, strike me down now, Isobel, since I cannot help but love her. We can't chose who we love."

Isobel looked up at the full moon in the sky. "No, no we can't." Isobel sighed, looking down at the river bathed in darkness beyond her spell's protection. "I'm sure the answer is already laid out for you, in this path she has put you on."

"I don't doubt that," Belladonna said, walking over to touch the flame of the burning candle by the altar. "I just want to know why her in particular."

"Maybe it was in our Lady's plan that you are to bring her back to the light. Maybe she is the key to something far greater. Does she remember anything from her past?"

"Bits and pieces. Up to her if she wants to share it with you but I doubt it. Something about rituals and loss of memory," Belladonna sighed. "I have not forsaken my oath or my duties. I'll continue to fight in our Lady's name, you have my word. But I won't chose between her or my faith."

Silence took over them once more. The full moon shining brightly above them, dark clouds looming in the distance. Underneath the balcony, Shadowheart moved inside the inn, clutching her hand.

They decided to camp outside of the inn, Astarion pitching a fit when told. "They have beds! Actual beds!"

"The Fists are leaving tomorrow. We have Jaheira's okay to take their rooms once they leave. It's just one more night, Astarion," Bella reasoned. 

"But beds!" Astarion whined, Belladonna rolling her eyes as she moved to go into her own tent to change. She checked herself for any other injuries, not noticing anything new. Changing quickly, she moved back outside to see Lae'zel and Shadowheart staring each other down over the map they were given by the Harpers.

"Please, not tonight," Belladonna pleaded with them both. 

"We must find the creche in the morning," Lae'zel pretty much commanded. "We mustn't dally further."

"And walk into our certain doom? Are you insane?" Shadowheart countered, earning a sneer from the Gith. 

Lae'zel turned to her, "I defer this to you, Belladonna. Choose wisely and don't let the fact you are sharing your bedroll with her cloud your judgment."

Shadowheart bristled further, "She's not-"

"We'll go find the creche once we're able to scout out a safe path towards mountain. After we help the Harpers with their ambush," Belladonna replied, Shadowheart turning to give her a glare. "We need a safer way to traverse the deeper shadows beyond some torches. Is that fine, Lae'zel?"

"More than adequate," the Gith replied, standing taller before turning to go to her own tent.

Shadowheart threw up her hands. "Fine. We'll go to the Gith. You'll see they won't be able to help us."

"Shadowheart..." Belladonna called out, her lover stalking away to her own tent.

Belladonna huffed, sitting down by their campfire. She knew they couldn't delay Lae'zel's request anymore. She didn't want Lae'zel to wander off on her own, especially in the Shadowlands but in doing so, she knew Shadowheart would be upset. Shadowheart's fear of the Gith's retaliation was very much real, even though Lae'zel has kept her word to keep it civil between them.

The rest of her people though, she was sure won't show the same sort of mercy. Especially if it comes out that she stole the artifact from them. Maybe, just this once, she could leave Shadowheart back, she thought to herself. 

She looked over to her lover's tent, Shadowheart having retreated inside, tent flap down for privacy. In all their journeys so far, the constant ones have been the two of them. Shadowheart was a constant presence on her left flank that she barely had to think about covering that side ever since they started travelling together. Her eyes lingered at Shadowheart's tent when she felt Astarion sit beside her.

"You're staring," Astarion pointed out, Bella glaring at him.

"I am keeping watch," she objected, eyes scanning the area. Astarion laughed.

"If that was keeping watch, then what's this?" He produced her bracelet, her mother's bracelet, and dangled it in front of her. "Admit it and you can have it back."

Belladonna cursed under her breath, "Fine! I was staring. Happy?" Astarion's smile didn't falter, handing her bracelet back to her.

"Falling for your mortal enemy, how cliché," Astarion purred. Belladonna resisting the urge to throw the man into the fire before them. "Although, goddess quarrels aside, you both are very much alike. Brooding over each other yet truly enjoying each other's company. It's a weird little balance game you're both playing."

"I am not brooding over her," Bella defended. "It's very much complicated."

"Wyll and Karlach's situation is complicated. Yours and Shadowheart's eclipse theirs, it's on another plane." 

Bella couldn't argue with his observations. Her oath has kept her grounded for the most part but there was something about Shadowheart that has made her lose her footing more than once. She couldn't shake the feeling that both of them were there for the same reason. What that reason is, she didn't know. 

"See! Brooding!" Astarion commented, seeing her deep in thought.

"Don't you have a boar to feed on or something? A bear maybe?" Bella asked annoyedly.

Astarion chuckled, "When they say keep your friends close and your enemies closer, I don't think they meant for you to be sleeping with them, darling. It has helped with the tension though."

"I will smite you where you stand, Astarion. Do not tempt me." Astarion laughed as he left, waving as he disappeared into the night.

She continued her watch with relative silence, playing with her bracelet. Seven silver stars and her eyes. She clasped it back on, staring into the sapphire eyes, wishing for an answer to all of this.

Halsin eventually relieved her of her watch after a couple of hours. She turned towards her tent, stopping to look over at Shadowheart's once more before deciding not to bother her.

She'd have to chose who goes with her soon. The thought of leaving Shadowheart behind wasn't something she seriously wanted to consider but it might be the best choice at this point. Would they still be shielded if they were to leave her and the artifact behind? she wondered. They did leave the rest of the group behind often enough that they didn't change. If she was truthful to herself, she just didn't want to be apart. But she also didn't want to lose her to the Gith.

A fool in love is far more dangerous than a regular fool she remembered Shadowheart saying before, Bella making her decision as she drifted into her trance.

Chapter Text

Belladonna stood over the map of the Shadowlands as well as the map of the Heartlands side by side.

They had a handful of things to do and she was wondering how best to tackle them simultaneously.

They had spoken with Jaheira, convincing the High Harper to trust them was easier after yesterday's fight with Marcus and the ghouls. She had to mediate the tension between the Harpers and the remaining Fists, Florrick adamant that they didn't know Marcus was a turncoat.

"Seems that happens a lot," Jaheira poked, making the Fists bristle but they couldn't argue. Belladonna knew that the Fists had a hard time keeping their ranks clean. One of her normal duties when she was in Winterguard of Neverwinter was to bring them to justice. Far too many times did she have to bring in a stray Fist back to his home city for judgment. 

She took her quill, grabbing a scrap piece of paper to write out their list of tasks, and also marking where they would be on the maps. 

Back in the Heartlands, they had to try and find another piece of the infernal scrap for Karlach. Dammon had told them that they would need at least 3 of them this time around to make the heat shield for Karlach's infernal engine of a heart, enabling Karlach to touch people again. Once told, it immediately shot up their priority list, especially with how excited Karlach was at the prospect.

Belladonna swept the feather quill on her chin, thinking to herself how to best go about this. If they were to take the Underdark route they already knew, it would be a couple of days travel in the Underdark alone. Another half day to get to Waukeen's rest from the ruined temple. They then had to try to convince Zarys to sell them the scrap unless they steal it from her. Stealing from the Zhentarim wasn't really something she wanted to contend with. With travel back, it would be a better part of the week. 

They could try to find the mountain pass, kill two birds with one stone and find the creche and use the pass to save some time going back to the Heartlands but without knowing how deep the shadows are in that area, it would take them multiple trips to even just scout the are let alone orient themselves once they make it out to the pass. 

She did want to go back down to the Underdark though, find the shield they had made back at the Grymforge and possibly find a way to bring up a couple of the Sussur flowers. If Gale was right in his assessment of them, they might be helpful if they were go into Moonrise Towers itself. But that would add another day of travel. Should she split the group? she wondered. Not like they haven't done so before but this time, she was more hesitant, especially with the Shadow Curse and the threat of the Absolute being closer.

Bella heard footsteps come up to the table but she didn't look up. "Still at it?" she heard Gale ask, setting down some food in front of her. 

"Trying to find the best way to go about our quests. We have little time, but much to do," she replied, dunking her quill into the inkpot to make another note on the map: Sessur Flowers? "That Noblestalk. Do we still have it?"

"It's in my alchemical pack. I wasn't sure if you wanted to sell it or have Shadowheart eat it," Gale said sliding the food over the map. "You should eat."

"I'm fine," Bella replied, moving the bowl away to mark the Zhentarim hide out. "Didn't we find the Zhentarim storehouse in the Underdark? Was it near the Selûnite outpost or the myconid colony?"

"Yes and it was closer to the myconid colony. But Belladonna, you should eat," Gale pressed. Belladonna waved him off, focused on the task before her. She heard him sigh, getting up whispering something to himself and she as once again left alone. 

There was also the matter of Art Callan. They had a lot of ground to cover here in the Shadowlands. They were told of the town of Reithwin, how it was overrun by darker shadows in certain areas. They were to leave for the scouting mission later that day with some Harpers but...

She heard familiar footfalls approaching her, this time, Belladonna looked up to a furious looking Shadowheart. "Belladonna Elteth!" Shadowheart growled out, making her flinch at the use of her full name. She felt smaller all of a sudden, Shadowheart looming above the table she was using. 

"Eat," she commanded, sliding the bowl over where she was looking. 

"But-" Shadowheart levelled her with a glare, Bella sighing in defeat. She sat down, eating the prepared stew along with the bread. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she started eating. Shadowheart stayed, pouring her some wine as she started to look over the maps as well. Before long, Bella had finished, downing half the wine as well. "Thank you."

"You're are taking a break. You have been at this since sunrise and it's beyond midday. You are leaving this blasted table and coming outside for a walk with me," Shadowheart ordered, trying to drag her way from the table. 

"I have work to do!" Bella protested, sitting herself further into the chair. "Shadowheart, let-"

"Elteth!" she heard from below them, making both of them stop. Belladonna stood and made her way to the railing. Lassandra was looking up at them, all ready to go.  "We're heading out in 15 minutes. Grab your team."

"Got it," Belladonna confirmed, looking back at Shadowheart who only sighed. 

"I'm coming," Shadowheart said, making her way towards the stairs. Belladonna looked went back to the table, looking at the maps again. This scouting mission could make or break the rest of their time here. They needed to find a way through the deeper darkness.

"One step at a time," Bella reminded herself. 

"A pixie?" Wyll asked, moving closer to inspect the lantern with her. "That's how they've been doing it?"

"Guess so. We should head back, it's nearly nightfall," Belladonna said, looking back to see Shadowheart climb down from the roof along with the other Harpers. Branthos was badly injured, as was Lassandra but the Harpers did well. She handed Wyll the lantern to hold, helping patch up the injured. "We should move."

"Gladly," Lassandra confirmed. "That's twice you've save our asses. Keep whatever you find. We can figure out what to do with the lantern back at the inn."

"Lead the way," Belladonna deferred to the Harper, Wyll walking in the middle of them to keep them all in the light of the lantern. 

"GET ME OUT OF HERE YOU RAT BASTARDS!" she heard the pixie scream out. "I"LL GUT YOU!"

"She's more foul mouthed than Karlach." Shadowheart joked, "You alright?"

"Couple of scrapes. I can manage until we reach the inn." Belladonna fell in step with her, savouring the light the pixie provided while trying to ignore her cursing at them. 

The return to the inn was quiet on their end but they could hear movement and screams from the shadows. It made Belladonna uneasy, finding herself turning towards each and every sound, senses heightened to the extreme. She willed herself not to stray away from the path when she heard sobs, screams for help knowing full well there wasn't anything there. 

She felt Shadowheart's hand brush against hers, the touch taking her out of her own thoughts. "They're not real," Shadowheart assured her. "Don't focus on them." Belladonna nodded, Shadowheart distracting her with idle conversation. 

Once they were back inside the dome, Belladonna shuddered, shaking her whole body to get the voices out of her head. "Thank you."

"Anytime," Shadowheart said, giving her a smile.

Belladonna sat out on the dock, looking up at the moon, taking a sip of the wine she had poured probably over an hour ago. "Cant sleep?" she heard from behind her, Gale sitting himself down.

"Mind wouldn't shut off," Bella said, letting out a huge sigh.

"Been there," the wizard admitted, looking out at the lake. "You don't have to carry this burden yourself, you know."

"I know. And I appreciate your concern. It's just..." she paused. "Complicated."

"Talking it out helps me, even if it's just to my cat," Gale replied.

Bella hesitated, Gale patiently waiting for her to speak. "Almost every step of this journey thus far, Shadowheart has been there. That weapon...artifact she carries has protected us. If I take her to the crèche, I risk losing the artifact and possibly her if the Gith find out she is the one who stole it from them. Both her and this dream visitor don't want me to go but I'm no longer in the position to stall Lae'zel from finding her people." She paused, fidgeting with her bracelet. "Even if I'm skeptical on this zaith'isk, what if it actually cures us? We wouldn't need to go continue with Moonrise, though I am still bound to continue."

"And you don't think she'd come with you," Gale filled in the unspoken end of her sentence.

"I wouldn't ask any of you to continue on this suicide mission, if we were able to be cured tomorrow. You all have your own lives to live. This is my mission now," she looked up to the full moon above. "As my Lady has willed it."

Gale looked up to the moon as well, deep in pensive thought. "I can't speak for the rest of them, but you would still have me. Not that I have much of a choice when it comes to this," he pointed to his chest. He sighed, pouring some of the wine into his own goblet. "Gods are fickle beings, Belladonna. Selûne, Mystra, Shar...all of them see us as something they can use to advance their will on this realm. They will discard us when we can no longer fulfill their whims, although some, like yours, seem to be more forgiving that others."

"I know some of our group don't believe in the gods, and I don't blame them for not doing so," Gale continued. "But we're pieces of this twisted game they are playing, even those who don't believe. Some won't join us and that's fine. But if you ask, I'm sure most of them will join in this mission, even your paramour."

Belladonna chuckled at the word. "We're not subtle about it, are we?"

"You're not. Shadowheart was trying but I think Lae'zel's caught her too many times in the morning at this point she doesn't care anymore." They both let out a laugh. "You both deserve happiness, Bella. I'm sure even if we get cured tomorrow, Shadowheart will still be by your side."

Will she be? Belladonna wondered. Would Shadowheart stay and see this through to the end with her or would she leave to finish her mission immediately after? Belladonna finished her wine, helping Gale up as they made their way back to the inn. Gale gave her a nod, bidding her a good rest as she entered her private room, Shadowheart still sleeping soundly in bed. 

She watched her lover for a moment, features becoming far softer in slumber. Bella joined her, settling beside to fall into another turbulent trance.

Belladonna stood over the table once more, putting the bell Dolly Dolly Dolly gave them in her pocket for safe keeping. 

She was certain that the pixie would trick them into something more nefarious but she was true to her word, the bell's magic being put into good use by them and the Harpers, managing to scout closer and closer to the tower.

Halsin had joined them for some of the scouting missions and the man proved to be both a competent fighter as he was a healer. He was hesitant on leaving Art Callan once he heard of what happened to him, giving the Harpers another in-house healer and allowing Isobel to take more frequent breaks.

There was the undeniable tension between Isobel and Shadowheart but they both kept it civil. Isobel started joining them during the planning meetings, offering some insight to what they might find once they got to Reithwin. She could see Shadowheart leering at the Silverstar, Isobel ignoring Shadowheart for the most part. "I would check the House of Healing," Isobel suggested. "It's close to the tower as far as I recall. There or maybe the tavern."

"Moonrise used to be devoted to Selûne," Jaheira recalled. "Would there have been any sort of resistance during its fall? A safeguard for those who remained  devoted?"

"It's possible," Isobel said. "The Thorms descent to Shar was fast, according to my studies. If there were any followers of the Moonmaiden left, it would have been smaller."

Belladonna caught Shadowheart rolling her eyes, raising an eyebrow at her but she said nothing during the meeting.

"Isobel's hiding something," Shadowheart said as they walked the grounds hours after the meeting. The sun was hidden behind some clouds but the air was nice. 

"Aren't we all?" Belladonna noted, letting her fingers brush against a berry bush. Shadowheart didn't reply, both of them knowing that there were still things left unsaid between them despite sharing a bed most nights. Even Karlach still had secrets. As much as she was open about herself, she knew that the tiefling will probably never speak of the horrors she had faced as Zariel's favourite. 

"I need you to lead the second team tomorrow," Belladonna broached the topic of the upcoming mission, making Shadowheart stop. 

"Lead Lae'zel's team? Sure she won't be mad?" Shadowheart teased. 

"She's coming with me. We're going to the crèche," Belladonna said, making Shadowheart groan. "This is the only way I could think of that would keep you safe from the Gith and still have this possibility open to us."

"I don't need to be safe if we don't go to them," Shadowheart argued. "We don't even need their so called cure. They are lying about this, Bella."

"You don't know that. If anyone knows the mindflayers, it's the Gith. Lae'zel's been patient with us taking a longer route and I intend to help her get to this zaith'isk." Belladonna reasoned. "They've been locked in this war far longer than any of us. I trust Lae'zel on this, Shadowheart. And I will help her the same way I will help you."

Shadowheart gritted her teeth, swallowing what Bella knew was more bitter words about the Gith. "If you're going in there then I am coming with you."

It was Belladonna's turn to groan. "The other team needs a healer, especially with Halsin staying back. This way, we can get to the zaith'isk and help Karlach find another infernal iron piece without wasting more time."

"Would you rather have me beside you from the get go or would you rather have me in the shadows following you without you knowing?" Shadowheart challenged, Belladonna taking in a deep breath.

"Please don't argue with me on this," Bella pleaded.

"I swore I will not lose you again," Shadowheart said, hand immediately flaring.

"Your goddess says otherwise," Shadowheart glared at her. "You'd really defy Shar just to see this through?" Belladonna asked.

"Maybe she just wants me to eliminate the Gith from the inside, with your help of course." Shadowheart reasoned, mark subsiding. "Goddess or not, I'm coming with you."

"Fine." Belladonna conceded, saying a silent prayer to Selûne that tomorrow will go smoothly.

Chapter Text

They stood at the cliff overlooking the monastery below, the rest of the group marching down the path to find a way across. Neither of them worshipped the Morninglord but seeing the destruction of yet another temple made both of them pause.

"How many temples..." Shadowheart started saying, not finishing her thought.

"Too many," Belladonna replied, the old temple of the Lathander now a ruined decay of its former glory. The watched as the morning sun was climbing higher in the sky, the place oddly peaceful for what they knew it to truly be: a mass grave turned training ground. The Githyanki would have slaughtered any and all in at the temple, worshipper, clergy or not. There wouldn't be anyone left alive beyond the Gith that now call it home.

How long ago did it fall? Bella wondered. The Temple of Selûne would have been recent but this...this seemed to be far longer. She could feel Shadowheart shift and sigh. The Grymforge seemed to have just fallen out of disuse, but skeletons can't speak. Lolth or any of the other dark Seldarine could have spelled the end of that temple and due to their own secrecy, none of Shar's other worshippers would have known.

Too many gods at play. Far too many. 

"You don't have to come in," Bella said, giving Shadowheart a small glace. "I was hoping you, Astarion and Karlach stay outside while the rest of us go in and figure out this zaith'isk."

Shadowheart shook her head. "I'm not leaving you alone with them."

"I won't be alone, Gale and Wyll will be with me."

Shadowheart looked up at her, eyes hardened. "Neither of them can heal. Wyll's powers only grant him protection, not the rest of you."

"I am not risking your life," Belladonna argued. "You stole from them, Shadowheart! They will kill you if they knew what you did."

"I'm coming, whether you like it or not." Shadowheart pushed past her, going down towards where the others went. Belladonna groaned loudly, kicking a pebble out of frustration as she followed. She just hoped the Gith would be reasonable or at least, she can keep Shadowheart from lashing out at them.

You should listen to her. They are not your friend. Your curiosity about this will get you killed. The dream visitor piped in, Bella shaking her head to ignore its voice. 

So be it. You will see for yourself that the Githyanki has lied.

Belladonna stood back, keeping an eye on Shadowheart as she let Lae'zel take the lead. Wyll thankfully decided to stay upstairs with Karlach and Astarion, the two of them set on figuring out the puzzle regarding the Blood of Lathander. She hoped to Lathander they don't actually figure it out.

They flanked Lae'zel, listening as she commanded the guards to stand down, explaining they need the zaith'isk.

"You are infected?" she heard the guard call out, the other guards pointing their weapons at them. "A ghaik thrall is something to eradicate, not reason with."

"The faithful may be purified. This is Vlaakith's protocol!" Lae'zel rebutted, the guard sneering as she waved the other down.

"Fine - let the ghustil carry out your fate. report to the infirmary at once." She nodded to the others to open the doors. "And step carefully. Creche Y'llek watches you."

"Follow," Lae'zel said, Belladonna following without a word. She took in the destruction of the inner temple, how much of it still remained and what was done with the rest. Each one of they have been to, almost the same pattern: Invaded by an opposing force, most of the statues beheaded, torn down or desiccated in another form. Rooms used for cleansing now used to teach death. There was an air of intensity coming from everyone in, including the children.

She frowned at the thought of the children being raised in such a militant way as they passed what looked to be the old quarters. The Gith are a culture of war, she reminded herself. This was their concept of childhood. No toys, no fun in the way she and the other races knew of. Training was their fun. Blood was their splash pools.

Bella kept her eyes fixed on Lae'zel's head, ignoring the cries of a tormented child, feeling herself edge closer to breaking her oath. It's not my place, she told herself. It's not my call.

They approached the woman by the table, examining a tadpole. Lae'zel spoke for them again, arguing with the Ghustil about the tadpoles. "We must enter the zaith'isk."

"You are infected, but showing no signs of cerebral impairment?" the Ghustil spoke, eyeing them all. "Fascinating." The way she said it sent a shiver down her spine, Belladonna willing herself not to react to the scrutiny. "Either your tadpole is special. Or you are.  We must find out which."

She led them to the zaith'isk. "I will ensure you are cured. Go on. Sit. Time is of the essence."

Bella looked the contraption over, everything about it too alien and unsettling. "Are you sure this is safe?" she questioned.

"This is Vlaakith's purity distilled," Lae'zel said. "My duty. My right."

"That didn't answer the question," Gale pointed out, Lae'zel shooting him a glare.

"Go ahead, Lae'zel," Bella said, Lae'zel giving her a nod. They watched as Lae'zel moved to the machine, Shadowheart moving to her left side, watching carefully as the machine hummed, it's chitinous claws coming down in front of Lae'zel as it started what it needed to do.

Pain washed over Bella's mind, making her close her eyes as she tried to focus and help Lae'zel through the ordeal. Lae'zel started to chant, Bella breathing ever deeper as the ghustil encouraged her to continue. "Bella," she heard Gale call out, feeling her tug on her cape.

Belladonna questioned whether this was really the cure. It felt like it was seeking the parasite indiscriminately, destroying parts where it was without care. "Do not interfere!" the ghustil called out as Lae'zel cried out in pain. "It is working as intended."

The pain continued, Belladonna enduring as Lae'zel gritted her teeth. Shadowheart was holding her up now, "Bella, please. Get her out of there," Shadowheart whispered in Elvish. "She'll die. You both will."

"My Queen, hear me!"

"Belladonna! We can't let it kill her!" Gale cried out.

Bella then saw it: specters of Githyanki past. This...this is their fate. Their anguish. Belladonna pushed further, seeing Lae'zel's life laid bare among those that came before her. The voices of the dead cry out as one. The zaith'isk collects memories from the infected - and executed them. This is not for curing. It is for killing.

"Lae'zel get out of there! It's going to kill you" Belladonna cried out, Lae'zel's eyes blinking as she listened, jumping out just as the zaith'isk exploded.

Lae'zel cursed, yelling at the failure of the machine, the cries of the Ghustil joining her as the other woman mourned her life's work. She looked Lae'zel over, her voice cutting with a fanatical edge.

She pulled Lae'zel, looking at her in the eyes. "Follow my lead. She intends to kill you. Kill us," Bella told her through the parasite, examining Lae'zel's eye. "The parasite is dead," Bella said, letting Lae'zel go. "It worked."

The ghustil eyed her, looking back between Lae'zel and Bella before grinning. "Fascinating. All of that was just a display of it's power. Too bad we couldn't extract it alive." Belladonna pushed Lae'zel back towards the rest of the team. Her senses were fully heightened around the ghustil, not trusting the woman at all. "Leave me. I must salvage what I can."

They retraced their steps back to the entrance, back beyond the front doors towards the gondola down. Belladonna kept a close eye on Lae'zel's seething anger. Lae'zel let out a bloody scream once they were in the clear. "I followed the protocol!" Lae'zel cried out, Belladonna letting her get her emotions out. "I have kept my faith! Yet the zaith'isk might have killed me."

"It was meant to kill you, you stupid Gith!" Shadowheart cried out, getting into Lae'zel's face. "There was no cure! Only death! That is how your people are! I've seen them at work before and this is how they are!"

"Shadowheart," Gale said. "Lae'zel couldn't have known the zaith'isk's true purpose. I assume her people are kept in the dark about its true nature on purpose. Do not press this further."

"Someone must have tampered with it," Lae'zel tried to reason with herself, ignoring Shadowheart. "Unless something from the outside was affecting it," she glared at Shadowheart. "The weapon..."

"No," Shadowheart said, moving away slightly. "It's staying with us."

There was a flash of silver meeting a flash of gold, Lae'zel's blade stopped by a glowing golden aura around Shadowheart. Bella's eyes focused on keeping the spell up, glaring at Lae'zel's impulsive move. A glow of purple surrounded Shadowheart, Gale holding her in place as the dagger in her hand was halted by Lae'zel's torso.

"Your bias towards the Sharran shows brightly," Lae'zel called out, Belladonna not falling for the trap. Shadowheart bristled, struggling against the spell but Gale held her in place. "Chose your next words and actions carefully, Belladonna, for they may be your last."

"You've been lied to, Lae'zel. What ever this weapon is, it's been protecting us. It's continued to protect us. We can't surrender it." Belladonna said, trying to reason with her. "We've earned your trust. We still have options. We can still get this parasite our of our heads, without your people."

"Surrender the half-blood and the weapon and the rest of my people may let you live, Belladonna," Lae'zel replied, turning her swords towards Bella. "If not, you lose me and have the rest of my kin as your enemies."

"They will kill you!" Bella yelled out. "And then what?! Think this through! We haven't betrayed you! I'm not going to start now! Why lose your life to this when you still have a way out of this through us?"

Lae'zel's nostrils flared, eyes burning with fury but moved away from Shadowheart. "Do you really believe you can fix this?"

"I have been exhausting every possibility given to us. Moonrise is still an option for us. The artifact and this guardian has kept us from turning," Belladonna reasoned. "Trust me on this, please."

Lae'zel continued to glare but nodded. Belladonna turned to Shadowheart, eyes also full of anger but there was an understanding there. "We are not turning against each other. Not here. Let her go."

Gale stopped concentrating, breathing heavily. "What now?"

"With the zaith'isk destroyed, we can only assume that it was tampered with from the inside," Lae'zel said. "We must let the creche know of a traitor in their midst."

Shadowheart groaned. "We're not going back down there!"

"You will not forsake my kin for your selfish ways, half-blood!"

"ENOUGH!" Belladonna yelled out. "We will warn the creche but we are leaving immediately after. We cannot let them have the artifact." She turned to Gale. "Tell Karlach, Astarion and Wyll to leave immediately. Tell them to head back to Last Light and to be on high alert."

"Are you bloody insane?!" Shadowheart cried out. "They will take it from us by force! Why even tempt it when we can leave now?!"

"I gave you an opportunity to not be here and forced me to bring you. You will follow my lead and not question this, understood?" Belladonna asked, watching Shadowheart's jaw tighten as she scowled.

"You're leading us to our deaths," Shadowheart shook her head, stepping away. "This is madness."

"Do. Not. Question." Belladonna said in a low, dangerous voice. 

"You will regret this, Belladonna." Shadowheart said. "This better be worth it."

The visage of the undying queen of the Githyanki towered over them, Belladonna's heart racing as she desperately looked around them for an exit. Her words were focused on Lae'zel for now, promise of cleansing, ascension being thrown in between cutting words of disapproval and anger. The Astral Prism, the artifact they held was "compromised", the Lich Queen said. Gale stood off to the side with Shadowheart, holding onto his rib, blood staining his clothes. Shadowheart was glaring, unbridled fury at the visage and back at her. 

She was blaming her for this. This was her decision after all.

Belladonna turned back to Lae'zel who turned to her, eyes full of confusion but still devoted to her god queen. "Choose. But know this: the cost of refusal is great."

"Not just great," Vlaakith said. "Eternal."

Belladonna closed her eyes, weighing the options given to her. Does she do as the lich queen asks and cleanse the prism? It would spell the end of their guardian and doom them all to be mind flayers. Possibly doom the rest of Faerûn with this threat of the Absolute. 

Or does she betray her ally, provoking the rest of the creche by defying their lich queen and lose Lae'zel?

Would they make it out alive either way? Possibly not. She was at an impasse and both sides pretty much guaranteed more loss. More deaths. Dark tendrils were pulling at her again, body and soul inching her closer and closer to breaking her oath.

There had to be another way, Belladonna thought. There has to be another way.

She looked at Shadowheart, still glaring at her, before her gaze drifted to the pouch that held the prism. "No. Belladonna, don't do this." Bella stepped closer, Shadowheart looking at her like a deer in headlights. She tried to move away but she was still holding up Gale. "You'll doom us all."

"My hand's been forced," Bella said, stepping closer. "The Prism. Please."

"No."

There was a thud, Gale falling on the floor as the spell took hold of Shadowheart. Bella's eyes glowing. "It's the only way," she reasoned, cutting off the pouch where the Prism was held, Shadowheart still frozen in place. Belladonna turned back to the Plane shifter, feeling the weight of the Prism in her hand, mind willing the rest of her body to move as she let the spell go. She heard Shadowheart gasp behind her, following her when she stopped. 

"Please..." Shadowheart said, trying one last time but her decision was made. She placed the Astral Prism in the middle of the device, heat pulsing out of the it as it begins to flower, its panels breaking off in hot white light before they are all teleported away. Belladonna opened her eyes to see the stars, unending and vast. This was a pocket of the Astral Plane, home to Lae'zel and her people.

In spite of all my  warnings, you still came. Disappointing.

She looked up and saw the moon itself, named after her goddess and felt its warmth. Its guidance. She felt her goddess' guiding hand, nudging her forward, towards the waiting portal.

Belladonna looked around her to see the rest of her companions with her, Shadowheart hovering over a very injured Gale, furious. "Stay here," Belladonna said, looking over at Lae'zel. "All of you."

"Bella please..." Shadowheart said. "Don't do this. Don't doom us for her sake."

"Trust me," she replied, looking Shadowheart in the eyes. "I'll fix this. I will."

Belladonna crossed the threshold to where the guardian was, coming face to face with this creature that wore her mother's face. 

Belladonna huffed, sliding out her blade from the young Githyanki guard, looking back at Gale to see him with the scroll. Three rays of fire streaked past her head, landing squarely at the guards as Gale booked it beyond the quartermaster's tent, up the rock face and beyond. 

A crossbow bolt flew past her head, Shadowheart sending a firebolt towards the other guard, setting him in flames. Lae'zel gritted her teeth, sending another two crossbow bolts towards the same guard, missing the first but hitting with the second, all of them moving back to join Gale as they traded blows with the githyanki. 

They fought their way back to the gondola, setting fire to the cable as they ran to the stoney outcrops, returning fire as they went, the Gith eventually stopping as they crossed the threshold back into the darkness of the Shadowcursed lands.

"What the hell happened back there?!" Karlach yelled out, Gale ushering her and the others off to a corner. Belladonna sighed, massaging her shoulder as she looked at where Lae'zel was. 

"Speak," Lae'zel said as she approached.

"How fucked are we, truly?" Belladonna asked, bypassing all decorum.

"One is to assume that all of the githyanki know me as a hshar'lak - a traitor," Lae'zel spat out, sneering at the word. "Vlaakith's armies will hunt us for the weapon, for my head. They will not stop until they succeed."

Belladonna sighed, "I'll alert Jaheira, make sure the inn has more heightened security."

"That would be wise," Lae'zel replied, getting up. "Thank you, for all you did."

"It was worth a shot," Belladonna admitted. "We couldn't have known it wouldn't work, that your people were being lied to. Rest well, we'll need your expertise tomorrow on the debrief."

"One more thing," Lae'zel said, making Belladonna stop. "The cleric is your weakness. She will be your downfall. I will not question your intentions with her however, should she try to harm you or question your orders again, I will not hesitate to put her in her place. Order must be kept."

Belladonna nodded, walking away to give Lae'zel space. She turned away, going over to the campfire to stoke it some more, replaying Lae'zel's words in her mind.

Chapter Text

The walk back to Last Light was quieter than normal, Belladonna and Lae'zel speaking with each other every once while but it was quiet. She could see Belladonna struggling with the voices, putting on a brave face but she could see her twitch and turn at every sound. Shadowheart wanted nothing more than to hold her hand, distract her with idle banter but she was relegated to the back with Gale. They haven't spoken since leaving the creche, and somehow, she's already missed the sound of the paladin's voice.

She replayed what happened the night before, Voss coming to them during the dead of night, the crackle of arcane energy waking her almost immediately. Belladonna had been on watch so it was no surprise to her at the ready,  Lae'zel standing with her. She had joined the rest of them, fingers glowing with divine magic just in case as Voss knelt in front of Belladonna and Lae'zel, asking for a parley. 

She listened to what he said, advising them that he was an ally, tasking them with protecting the Astral Prism and killing anyone who tries to take it from them. The fact that he didn't want it back surprised her. This was Vlaakith's second-in-command, defying his own people for this artifact they held and proposing to be their ally. 

Every word he spoke made her rethink what she knew of the gith, no doubt shaking Lae'zel to her core. The foundations of her faith now completely ruined. Lae'zel lashed out but Bella, ever the pragmatic voice, reminded her of all the evidence they had found, of their joint ordeal at the zhait'isk, swaying Lae'zel to see past the lies. 

There was no ascension for her or any of the gith. Her queen was nothing more than a tyrant - one that will stop at nothing to regain the artifact they held to ensure her lasting reign and potential ascension to godhood. Voss promised them a meeting once they reach Baldur's Gate, offering Bella an item that will warn them of gith ambushes. Belladonna passed the item to Lae'zel without so much as a second glance, fully trusting the near-broken woman with such an important item.

Hypocrite, she heard her own voice say, Shadowheart shaking this new found voice inside her. Bella trusts you with the artifact. Why shouldn't she trust Lae'zel?

Shadowheart felt the need to say something to oppose this all but found the words dying once she opened her mouth to speak. Voss left them as quickly as he arrived, Bella telling them all to go back to bed. She felt a pang of jealousy when Bella turned away from her, following Lae'zel to her area, no doubt to talk what just happened over with her. She wanted nothing more than to march up and drag Belladonna over but she stopped herself, opting on glaring blunt daggers as she stalked back to her tent. 

Damn Lae'zel and the Gith, she thought to herself. Barbs between them were far more toxic in nature than what was traded between her and Belladonna. Those who went with her to the creche were all dead, leaving her the lonely task of bringing it back to the cloister. She willed herself to try and remember who was with her during the mission, failing to conjure even another person's face. 

"We're back," she heard Belladonna say, jolting her out of her reverie. The glow of the barrier hurt her eyes amidst the dark backdrop. They moved quickly inside the barrier, the rest splintering off almost immediately, leaving her alone at the courtyard.

Shadowheart followed into the inn, Belladonna disappearing up the stairs. She settled back into their shared room, shedding the bloodstained armor in favour of her own sleep clothes, settling back in bed, staring up at the splintering wood. She shifted to her side, gripping a nearby pillow, inhaling the smell Bella's soap. Her heart skipped a beat, remembering that they had left this here, having slept in the same bed before departing for the creche.

A different voice called out to her, deeper and darker, just as the wound flared. Shadowheart screamed silently, clutching her hand in pain. Shar was not happy with her attachment or trying to remember. She recalled the Grymforge, her mind racing through the memories. She panted as the pain subsided, mind focusing on the memory of that night.

Selûne answered her prayer, Shadowheart remembered. Selûne, despite being in opposition to her own patron goddess, responded when it came to saving one of her own. Belladonna confided in her that Selûne herself pushed her back, telling her that her mission was not yet over. 

Belladonna had her goddess' trust. It wavered at times but Selûne had trusted her and in turn, Belladonna trusted in her. Her hand flared again, making her cry out before muffling it on the pillow.

Shar's reminded her of how much she trusted her with the wound. There was no love within the Dark Lady's church. Hate fed them as it gave them the strength to endure love. Even from the memories she was able to keep, she all she could remember was pain, darkness and loneliness repeated over and over again. Every mistake was punished, beatings - self inflicted or not - was frequent all out of devotion. Fear kept her and the rest in line within the cloister, sermons lasting hours about what the outside world thought about them and why they were shunned. That the light was blinding everyone else from the truth, darkness revealing everything. 

It was a lonely, isolated upbringing, that much she knew.

But she hadn't been lonely, Shadowheart realized as the pain ceased, lingering but manageable. The last couple of weeks have been anything but lonely. For the first time in a long time, she had memories she can recall and most of them were pleasant. Her mind turned to the rest of her camp, her new found friends bringing her a companionship she felt like she had longed for.

Gale was a fantastic cook, annoying when he tries to dump any knowledge he had learnt but overall pleasant to deal with. Wyll was joy to be with, tales of his own misadventures often making her laugh. Lae'zel, aside from their barbs, kept all armour in good condition. Karlach was just a ball of good, her excitement contagious while Astarion and her had a banter that was befitting that of siblings.

And there was Bella...

She heard feet move outside, heavier footsteps moving closer before stopping, moving away again. Shadowheart wondered if she would join her tonight though she doubted it after the day they had.

This was their biggest fight after the temple of Selûne, not that they were "together" at that time. She felt betrayed by Bella's decision to come to the crèche, even more when she took the Astral Prism to do Vlaakith's will. 

Belladonna's trust was something that she relied on heavily and at that moment, she felt like she had turned back against them all but Lae'zel. When Bella emerged from her talk with the dream visitor, seemingly no worse for wear, Lae'zel immediately jumped her. Bella told them all that she defied the Lich queen, allowing their protector to live, showing them all what had happened inside. Nothing was guarded, Bella fully trusting the three of them with even the most personal information.

Shadowheart wanted to scream at Lae'zel for being so blind in that moment but looking back now, they all had their own blind spots. Gale was the victim of his own hubris, she had her devotion to Shar. Astarion, Karlach and Wyll had their own demons, literally and figuratively, and Belladonna had...

Her.

The thought of herself being Belladonna's blind spot made her pause. Bella was far too trusting, wanting to see the good in people who probably didn't deserve it. Though Bella's gambles have paid off, Shadowheart couldn't help but think that one of them would betray her. 

What scared her was, she knew deep down, she was the one most likely to do it.

Her hand flared, Shar reminding her that even if she said nothing, she was still present in her head. Shadowheart sat up in bed, slipping on her slippers to take a walk outside. Her mind was far too restless, trying to process everything that has happened.

Selfishness was something she was afforded in Shar's church, Belladonna being the opposite. Paladins of "good" gods were compelled to help. It was ingrained into them via their training as evidenced by Bella's struggle with the voices in the shadow curse. Couple that with Bella's own background as a soldier of Neverwinter made for a mostly selfless being. 

The most selfish thing Bella had ever done was to be with her.

She hadn't meant to eavesdrop on her and Isobel's conversation, wanting to merely scout out the outside when she heard them speaking in hushed, tense tones. She fully expected a betrayal but Belladonna defended her, defended them, against possibly one of the highest ranking members of her own church. Even as they spoke about her, Bella betrayed no secrets.

She will be your downfall, a familiar voice in her head said. She's betrayed you once already.

Shadowheart found herself at the edge of the dome, the darkness beyond called to her, but she hesitated to step outside. She looked around to see Isobel on the balcony above her, watching her intently when Belladonna joined her. Their eyes locked in that brief second, the eyes of the moon looking down at her both in pity and with hope. Shadowheart turning away when her hand flared. 

She headed back inside, stopping one last time to look around her once more. The glow of the Moonmaiden's spell protected them all from the shadows beyond the barrier. Offering refuge to everyone there, the refugees they had saved, the Harpers and now them. All against her goddess' curse and she was in the dome with them.

Like a heretic.

The thought made her shudder. She wasn't a heretic. This was just a temporary alliance, she reminded herself. An alliance with the enemy she was sharing the bed with. She made her way back to their room, noticing Bella's armour there as well. She waited in bed, tucking her head in her arms, closing her eyes to the world. 

Shadows took over her mind, floating in the abyss as she opened her eyes. 

Why are you forsaking me, my child? she heard the shadows call out, Lady Shar's voice bringing her comfort and discomfort all at once.

"I'm not! I'm..." her words died as the tendrils crawled up her body, making her flinch at the touch.

"Have I not given you everything? I have trained you, poured so much of my love to you, saved you...." 

"You have! You have..."

"They why aren't you OBEYING ME?!" Shar's voice echoed in the darkness, pain shooting all over her body as she is pulled into the dark. Shadowheart screamed but no sound came from her body. 

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, feeling Shar clutch her face.

"Sorry doesn't fix this, child," she heard in one ear. "My darkness protects you but you turn away from it. You pleaded with the Moonwitch for her life!" pain surged along her body, black tendrils lashing her back. "A Selûnite fell in my temple and you asked for her to be brought back." Another set of lashes struck her, making her whimper before she was let go.

"Tell me how to fix it, please. I'll do anything." Shadowheart sobbed out, tears falling. "I'm sorry. Please...let me fix it. I'm...please."

"I know you will," Shar said, gently touching her chin. "You are my chosen child, my favourite. My lovely Shadowheart," She felt a kiss on her forehead. "Everything done by the Mother was for you. Only you." Shadowheart felt the shadows recede from around her. "Find my temple. Prove your love to me. Kill the Nightsong."

She felt a light touch moments later, Bella looking down at her with soft, tired eyes. Shadowheart recoiled, breathing heavily as to what just happened. She was in their room, their bed. "It's all just a dream," Bella said softly. "It's just a dream."

She felt her back, the pain of the lashes there but there was no physical sign of them. It burned her back, the memory of the dream in the forefront of her mind. Bella stood back, looking at her with concern. She only obeys the Moonwitch. She will never be yours. Shar whispered. Remember that, my child.  She will never love you as I do.

"I'm fine...It's nothing," she choked out, Bella reaching over but she recoiled once again. "Please...just leave me alone."

She watched Bella tense up before standing straight. With a nod, Bella turned away, grabbing her pillow off the bed to leave her alone in the room, alone.

As it should be, Shadowheart said to herself. 

As it should be. 

Chapter Text

Belladonna woke from her trance with a headache already forming. She was confused at first as to where she was before remembering what happened the night before.

She had heard Shadowheart whimpering in her sleep, pain etched on her face as she thrashed about. She couldn't forget the pain in her eyes when she woke her. The glare she gave her was out of pure disgust and malice. Shadowheart recoiled from her touch twice, asking to be left alone so she did. 

She found herself at the corner of the bigger shared room, Astarion giving her a knowing look that made her want to hit him with a smite. "Did she kick you out or something?" he asked in Elvish.

"or something," she replied, stretching, grabbing her pillow to go back to what was her room.

"So are addressing the elephant in the room now or later?" he asked, eyes going to Lae'zel. 

Belladonna stopped, turning to him with barely hidden rage. "Which giant elephant, Astarion? The Gith hunting us, the possibility there is no cure for us, that 2 of you can possibly blow up at any time, the fact my own goddess likely sent me back to do the impossible or a different secret thing?"

"When you put it that way, all of the above."

"It's too early for this," Bella replied, walking away. She could hear Astarion follow her but she tried to ignore him. 

"You know what would help with all this tension, Sex!" Astarion cried out, the Harpers turning to look at them. "You and Broody just need to fuck each other's brains out and then get to the actual talking bits after."

"Selûne, please give me strength to not smite the vampling where he stands," Belladonna muttered. "I'm not..." Belladonna stopped herself, "Why am I even discussing this with you? Go away."

"Remember! She's our cleric! Don't leave too many bruises on her!" He dodged the pillow being swung at him, giving her a smile he left her alone in the halls. The Harpers eyed her curiously before turning back to their tasks.

It was far too early for this.

Belladonna punched the training dummy in front of her, knuckles hitting metal, leaving them bloody. The pain dulled her thoughts, the guardian was talking to her more and more, using the same voice that always fed into her own insecurities. The debrief made everything worst, Jaheira not mincing her words about the danger they just put everyone else in.

Why did elven mothers always use the same bloody tone? she asked herself as she punched the training dummy with a right hook. The disappointed voice Jaheira used triggered every nerve of her body that made her shut down and just do what she was told. 

They were already on high alert for everything else but the Gith can just appear out of nowhere. Jaheira had ultimate command for everyone under the dome. She forced her hand to expel them out of it due to the refugees and Isobel's safety. The only compromise they could make do was to for the their team to sleep close so use the facilities. Astarion was immediately against at the suggestion, vowing to stay inside.

Belladonna punched the training dummy again, knocking the dummy down on the ground. She heard the doors open, Bella not paying any mind to who ever it was. Picking up the training dummy, she continued her one-sided spar with it, listening as the steps got closer, eventually stopping behind her.

She knew who it was long before she had stopped, as if her own senses were already attuned to Shadowheart. "You didn't get me for the meeting," Shadowheart stated, staying outside of the cell she was using. 

"You wanted to be alone," she reminded her, feeling Shadowheart hesitate to enter the jail cell she was using for her self-isolation. "I only obeyed your command."

She didn't even have to look back to know Shadowheart was frowning at her. The memory of her recoiling was clear in her mind, eyes looking at her with so much fear and loathing. It wasn't her, she reminded herself. Something must have happened in her dreams.

"That doesn't mean I shouldn't be informed, Belladonna." Shadowheart said. "I should at least know what we're getting ourselves into."

"Right. Keep you informed," Bella replied, resuming on beating up at the training dummy. "Like you weren't eavesdropping anyway."

"I wouldn't have had to if you got me."

Belladonna sighed. "If you're here to yell at me, just do it already. I'm not in the mood for pleasantries otherwise." The tension was thick in the air. She leveled Shadowheart with a stare, almost as if to challenge her to say something. "If you're looking for an apology, you're not getting one. I stand by my decision to go to the creche."

"Your decision to trust the Gith got us expelled," Shadowheart started. 

"You hate Isobel anyways so why do you care if we're expelled or not?"

"My hatred for the Selunite cleric is besides the point. We shouldn't have gone to the creche! I've told you time and again they couldn't be trusted. We should have stayed away from them."

"And what?! Just string Lae'zel along like I didn't make a promise to her?" Bella retorted. "I gave her my word that I would help her find her people. I keep my promises, Shadowheart. My decision to go there was on me. You didn't have to be there."

"Don't pin that on me, Belladonna!"

"It might have been my decision but YOU forced yourself on to that team. You decided to be there!" Belladonna yelled back. "I gave you multiple opportunities to stay behind! Multiple chances, even to to the last possible minute and yet you forced yourself to be there!"

Shadowheart fell silent at the barrage of facts, Bella's anger no longer held back. "You want to know why I wanted Wyll there? Because with him, I can at least try and lie about not having any attachment to the Prism. I can focus on keeping everyone else in line with the lies and we could have talked our way out of there! We could have denied knowing anything about the bloody thing! I could convince Lae'zel to lie, even if she would hate me for it. I nearly did! But with you there, my focus was on protecting you! YOU!" Bella caught herself, clenching her hand into a tight fist. "You couldn't even trust us for a day!"

"They couldn't be trusted and I was right!"

"Is that what your take away from all of this is?! That you're right?" Bella threw her hands up. "Trust is a two way street, Shadowheart. You not trusting us hurts us and our chances. Caution is one thing but the only people we've been able to rely on is each other. What do we need to do for you to trust us?"

She watched as Shadowheart opened her mouth to speak but couldn't come up with anything. Her headache was getting worse. "You Selunites are far too trusting."

"And you don't trust enough," Bella replied. "Though I suppose that's because your so called goddess has trust issues she actively punishes you for having a heart and a conscience."

The sound of Shadowheart slapping her echoed through the jail cell. 

Belladonna let out a pained laugh. Of course that's what Shadowheart would react to. 

"That's what your lady wants doesn't it? For you to not trust us, trust me. For us to fear. For us to feel lost and without hope. That everything we've been through is just to make us suffer more. That we're only bound by necessity through the tadpoles and by hate." She backed Shadowheart against the jail cell's wall, using her taller stature to hover above her. 

"You've doomed us all. I should have never trusted a Selunite," Shadowheart said, fury etched in her eyes. She could feel the tendrils of shadows crawling, gathering around Shadowheart. The torchlight outside the cell flickered, Shadowheart's eyes becoming darker, reflecting less light as she stepped closer to her. 

Bella felt the urge swell to put the woman in front of her in her place. All her senses were flaring, heightened to a degree around Shadowheart. Darker green eyes glared up at her, still holding the challenge. It would be easy to just pin her against the wall, take those lips against hers and settle this in a different way. Belladonna shook her head, feeling the whispers against her ear retreat. Damn the gods and the games they play.

She pulled away from Shadowheart, holding her gaze for a brief second before turning around. "No. I won't fall for this." Belladonna felt Shadowheart stop her from walking away, pulling her back. 

She looked down at Shadowheart, shaking her head. "You're right. I broke your trust on a hope that the Gith would be able to cure us. And I lost on that gamble. But it's led to something more. A new possibility for Lae'zel and a clearer path forward for us." Belladonna sighed, turning around to look Shadowheart in the eyes. "I'm sorry for breaking your trust, but I would chose that option again if I can go back."

"But your goddess is wrong. What ever lies she's been feeding you, they're just that. Lies. I won't turn my back on you or anyone in our party. The rest of us trust each other and we all trust you. We cannot do this without you. If your spiteful goddess doesn't want that then you're free to leave but," Bella whispered into her ears touching Shadowheart's chin, thumb glossing over her lips. "I hope she allows you to stay."

Something shifted in Shadowheart's eyes, the darkness giving way. Shadowheart blinked, eyes lighter once again. She pulled Shadowheart towards her, holding her in a deep embrace. "I'm sorry."

The torchlight still flickered outside the cell, shadows receding for now.

"I am too."

Chapter Text

The sun was just starting to come up over the water but the sound of steel hitting steel had already been going on for a while now. Shadowheart lunged at Bella with the pike, broadside hitting the shield once again, allowing Bella to easily parry and disarm. 

"Shit," the cleric muttered, the pike clanging on the ground. "I'm never going to get used to it."

"It just takes time," Bella reassured. She dropped her own shield on the ground, handing the pike back to her lover before standing behind her. "Pikes are heavier so you have to shift your grip and your weight accordingly when you're lunging forward." Bella lifted her arm up to the same stance as before, holding it there for a minute as she explained further. "Since the weight is mostly the blade point itself, you have to shift your grip slightly to turn it as you're going for the blow. Spears, you can control easier but it's the same principal."

They practiced for a few more minutes, Shadowheart getting better and better movement with the weapon before switching to the spear they had found. Taking their respective positions once more, Shadowheart lunged, adjusting to the lighter weight with a twist, landing a blow on Bella's shield that went up and nicked her face, nearly grazing her eye. Blood was pouring from the wound, Belladonna wiping it off with a smile. "Good."

"Mind if I join you?" Belladonna heard, Isobel standing off to the side. She hesitated in replying, knowing that there was no love lost between Shadowheart and Isobel. She looked over at Shadowheart, a frown gracing her face but she said nothing. Bella gave Isobel a nod, standing back as Isobel joined them at the dock turned training area.

"Take it easy on me now, I've been out of practice," Isobel said, taking her own spear in hand.

"First to three then," Shadowheart suggested, Bella noting the small smirk on her face. Bella watched as the two circled each other, like two displacer beasts stalking their prey. She's seen a small glimpse of Isobel's martial prowess but she knew the Silverstars weren't gifted their title unless they've done their own training. Isobel was waiting. 

She glanced over to Shadowheart, eyes watching Isobel's movements, unsure how she should proceed. Bella knew Shadowheart's movements a lot more, have seen her in battle and she was sure it was an even match but the spear was still new to her hands. She's taken to it faster than most but still. She watched as Shadowheart lunged, testing out Isobel's steps but Isobel saw right through it, hitting Shadowheart right on her left arm above her shield. 

Shadowheart swore, glaring daggers at Isobel while Isobel's face remained passive but there was a small smile on her face. Belladonna noted that Isobel seemed to be enjoying this, making her hesitant to let this continue.

"Come now, little Sharran," Isobel taunted, smile turning into a smirk. "I would have thought you'd be more eager to claim this chance against a Selunite."

Shadowheart scoffed. "I've fought Belladonna and lived." Shadowheart lunged again, Isobel stepping to the side but was quickly caught by Shadowheart sweeping at her feet, nicking her on the shin. Isobel glared, Shadowheart now mimicing the smirk. Belladonna frowned at the half-truth but didn't say anything. Isobel didn't need to know that she had failed their goddess.

The little sparring match had attracted some of the off-duty Harpers and the rest of their party. Karlach was bouncing up and down cheering for Shadowheart, the Harpers for Isobel and the children for both. Lae'zel stood to the side watching, keeping a close eye on Shadowheart, smiling when Shadowheart defended herself from the next attack.

The two traded two more blows, Shadowheart catching Isobel under her shield while Isobel got Shadowheart on the cheek. "Next point wins," Belladonna reminded them as they reset for what should be the last time.

Shadowheart shifted her stance to be more defensive, feet moving in steady steps. There was a sparkle in Isobel's eyes, Belladonna immediately knew that she was holding back. Isobel stood still, smile gracing her face, eyes glowing a silvery blue as she held out her spear towards Shadowheart. "Fulgor," Isobel said, watching Isobel's spear flash with lightening, catching Shadowheart off guard. Belladonna flinched as it arced out of the spear, pulling Shadowheart in, catching her in the arm and securing the final point.

"Isobel wins," Belladonna said, touching Shadowheart to heal her before moving to Isobel to do the same. Karlach booed, Lae'zel muttering something about how it didn't count, clearly upset for Shadowheart. Isobel smiled, extending a hand out to Shadowheart who only glared.

"A spear in particular is a good conduit for letting our divine magic flow out," Isobel clarified, putting her spear back on her back. "Or in my case, my mother's lightening. Come find me if you want to learn how to do it." Isobel bowed her head towards Shadowheart, patting Belladonna on the shoulder before going back into the inn.

"Out of practice my arse," Shadowheart muttered. "She was holding back."

"She was. I'm not sure why," Belladonna admitted. "It's a useful skill though. I've seen other clerics do it. I think you can do with with your mace as well." Shadowheart grunted a reply, massaging the shoulder Isobel landed a blow on. "Let's get cleaned up. We have a long day ahead of us."

Belladonna adjusted the drow mask on herself, looking at the rest of the scouting party with her. Wyll wore the same robes as the cultists mages, Shadowheart donning the leathers while Astarion wore the same drow armor she had on. Gale had cast seeming on all of them to fit their disguises, Wyll opting to be a tiefling while Shadowheart didn't want the seeming spell on her at all.

"You have 7 and a half hours. Plenty of time to scout around, find some answers and get back." Gale said, handing Wyll the other sending stone and a spare seeming scroll that he had spent the day before copying. "We'll scout the area by the toll house and the court yard in the meantime."

"Don't venture too deep into the town, you never know what is out there," Belladonna said, lifting the hood up to cover her hair. "Good luck."

"You need it more than we do," Gale said with a grin. "Don't have too much fun without us."

"We'll get you a souvenir, darling, don't worry." Astarion said with a wave. Belladonna gave them a nod, the two groups splitting off from the small bridge leading to the toll house and moonrise itself. It was a desolate place, littered with countless of skeletons from a war long ago. Belladonna focused on the task at hand, letting her mind wander as they walked.

How long ago did this happen, she wondered. Decomposition takes time but with the shadow-curse, it could have been a shorter span. Older Selunite and Harper armour mixed with Dark Justiciar amour, many having fallen during this war without a clear victor.

They crossed the bridge to Moonrise, everyone around her immediately going into the roles they were meant to play. The guards looked at them with skepticism, one using his own illithid powers to check them.

"Your group is late, True Soul," the guard said. "Some of the goblins are already before General Thorm."

"Those duergar costed us so much time," Bella explained. "Bloody turncloaks killed Nere and Minthara. Where was the dreider? No one met us."

The guard growled. "The mad arsehole hasn't reported in for days. Surprised you made it here without him."

"Killed a Harper scouting party for this," Bella produced their fake moon lantern. "Made it eventually."

"Report in, I'm sure you want your rest. There's some new traders in the lobby. Zhentarim brought in some supplies. Best get your choice of the new goods," the guard explained, opening the door for them.

Belladonna thanked him, sharing a look with Astarion and Shadowheart. They made their way into the audience hall, the sound of goblins groveling filling the room. Belladonna bit the inside of her cheek to keep her from reacting at the sight in front of her. Every fiber of her being was pulling her to act and save goblins from their fate.

Thorm also wanted the Prism, the goblins being punished for failing the general. "Tell the General how the goblins served our cause." Z'rell asked her, Bella eyeing the goblins.

"They are worthless cowards," Bella said, feeling her oath get tested. "Best just kill them. Thin out our weakest."

Ketheric and Z'rell smiled at her, the goblins panicking at the judgement given. They watched as the goblin threw the glaive at Ketheric, hitting him squarely on the chest. Bella watched as black-red blood spilled out but it only made Ketheric groan out in anger. He pulled the axe from himself to hand it back to the goblin who threw it, letting the goblin have another go in killing him. 

The direct hit from the axe to his neck should have ended him. Instead, the goblin lay dead, Ketheric scoffing as he walked away, leaving the other goblins for her to deal with. That shouldn't have been possible. Even the highest levels of healing spells couldn't regenerate limbs or innards that fast. Something else was at play here.

Something more foul.

Belladonna looked at the whimpering goblins before her, eyes steeling with resolve as she pulled her sword out of the sheath. "Trial by combat. Become masters of your own fate." Bella said, readying herself for a fight against the two remaining goblins.

Belladonna summoned every ounce of will to not push Z'rell away and draw her sword. The half-orc probed her mind for an answer, Bella lashing back, trying to build walls around their true purpose. 

She felt another wall break down, Bella feeling Z'rell continue to push and prod, stopping when Bella put forth an image of Shadowheart. The memory of them sharing a bottle of wine together, laughing at stories they told. Of their shared kiss and of her holding Shadowheart at the Grymforge. "You care..." Z'rell said, turning to look at Shadowheart. "For her. Why?"

There was the urge to lie, to say something she might regret for the sake of keeping up the act. "She's been with me every step of this. Hard not to care with a bond like that," Bella said without hesitation. "If the Absolute is to usher in a new era, I'd want to share that with her too."

Z'rell clicked her tongue, deciding they had proved their worth. "General Thorm needs you to find Balthazar and bring him back to Moonrise. We cannot dally anymore and the blasted necromancer thinks he can take his time. Take a lamp from his room. Touch nothing else."

"And Balthazar is where?" Wyll asked, Belladonna taking the key from Z'rell.

"The Thorm Mausoleum, across town. Can't miss it."

They nodded, following the hall to Balthazar's room. Belladonna closed the door behind them, immediately regretting the divine sense she cast as they got in. The entire room pinged of evil and malice. Even Astarion shuddered at the  amount of gore and guts in the room. "Astarion, door on the other side. Find out what's beyond it."

"On it." Belladonna flared out her divine sense again, reading the strewn about books. Shadowheart flitted about the room while Wyll tiptoed around the viscera on the floor. 

"Necromancers," Wyll said in disgust. "Damned bloody, vile necromancers."

Astarion got the door opened, Shadowheart following him to the next room. Belladonna grabbed the books and the lantern, following them into the next room to see Shadowheart playing with an undead dog.

"What?" She asked, Belladonna giving her a confused look. "He wanted pets."

"You're on distraction duty then," Bella said, moving around her to look about the room. Wyll joined her at the table, Astarion already ransacking the cabinets for anything they could take.

"By the gods..." Wyll cried out, looking over the papers. "This...this can't be."

"Grab everything. We need to leave. We can unpack this all back at the inn." Bella said, handing Wyll the bag they were given. "I'll check the next room for anything else." She squeezed Wyll's shoulder. "We won't let them win. I promise. None of this planning will come to fruition."

"I hope you're right," he said, giving her a nod as he started to pack all the papers on the desk.

Everyone's disturbed faces said everything that needed to be said. Elturgard was a test, Yartar another. The plans for the Gate and the rest of the Sword Coat meticulously outlined. They needed to get word out but Jaheira reminded them that no one else could be trusted at the Gate. They don't know who has been compromised. 

Especially with Gortash now in the mix.

Karlach flared hot when his name was mentioned, Wyll gritting his teeth as he filled in what he knew about him. Jaheira called the meeting off, noting that they all needed a break and this could all wait in the morning, giving them all time to process the info. She gave her a pat her on the shoulder, Belladonna not taking any solace in an infiltration job well done when it only brought up more questions than answers.

How is this all tied together? Are the gods so invested in this because of Ketheric or was there something far bigger at play? Who was he serving now? The bones in his chambers only spelled the worst possible thought but which of them did he serve? 

How is he regenerating so quickly?

What was his tie to Isobel?

"I know that look," Shadowheart said, joining her on the bed. "Jaheira said to leave it for now, so leave it."

"We're missing something, I just know it."

"If we are, then it can wait 'til morning," Shadowheart said, holding onto her hands. "I don't know about you, but sleep is calling for me right now and I'm close to answering her call."

Belladonna shook her head with a smile. "You're just happy that we're back at the inn again, instead of camping outside of the dome."

"Won't lie, I'm only with you for the perks. Especially when it comes to private rooms and comfortable beds," Shadowheart teased. "Now, can you please stop thinking about what we just learned and go to sleep now? Please?"

"Fine, but don't get too used to it. Jaheira said it was just for tonight. Reward for doing a good job." Bella reminded her, moving aside to let her lie down on the side closer to the wall. Shadowheart settled herself on her side, Bella wrapping her arm around her to get comfortable. 

"I could get used to this though," Shadowheart admitted, leaning up to give her a kiss. "Definitely already used to it."

"Good. Because I don't plan on letting you go."

Chapter Text

Bella hesitated on knocking on Isobel's door, wondering if this was even the right way to go about it. It all made sense now, why Isobel was so knowledgeable about the area, about the Thorms. But was confronting her about it the way to go? she wondered. Bella sighed, knocking on the double doors. "Come in," Isobel called out.

"Silverstar," Bella greeted, bowing her head out of habit. Isobel smiled and shook her head.

"Belladonna, we've talked about formalities," Isobel chided, putting her book down. "There's no need for them, not here at least. What can I do for you?"

Bella held out her hand to show her the Selûnite pendant she had found in Ketheric's rooms. Isobel's eyes lit up, moving towards it but caught herself, hesitating to touch it. "One of our pendants. An old one at that."

"Found it in a locked room beside Ketheric's chambers," Bella said, setting it down in Isobel's hands. "It's an old elven heirloom, passed down from mother to daughter. My sister has ours."

Silence fell between them as Belladonna closed the door. "Something has been off since we came here," Bella stated. "Something wasn't adding up when I thought about it. Why does Ketheric want you?" she asked in Elvish. "Why was he adamant on sending Marcus for you and only you? Why risk the Harper garrison just for you?"

Bella moved toward the middle of the room, keeping a good distance between Isobel and herself. "Then I saw the painting in that room. Of you, in your full Silverstar regalia. Your mother, brother and father. You're a Thorm. You're *the* Isobel Thorm." Isobel said nothing, clutching the pendant in her hand tighter. Bella looked at her, meeting Isobel's silver eyes. "You're supposed to be dead." 

"I was..." Isobel said, looking down at the pendant. "I don't know what happened. I remember going to sleep, then waking up to someone hovering over me, my body frozen then nothing but darkness. Not death, just darkness. Unending darkness."

Isobel held the pendant closer. "When I woke, I was greeted by shadows. My father had changed, warped by something, someone. He told me we'd be together but I knew it wasn't him, not the man who cared for me with all of his heart. So I ran," Isobel said, moving towards the bed to sit on it. "I found Last Light, prayed to our goddess to protect and hide me from him. In a way, she answered."

"When Jaheira and the Harpers found this place, I'd pieced enough to know I was dead for a hundred years. That my father brought this on our town, promising himself to Shar of all people. But he serves her no longer. He's become a Myrkulite." Isobel looked up at her. "I couldn't tell anyone who I was. I needed to protect myself."

"Your death changed the guardian families," Bella advised, hand instinctively going to her bracelet. She remembered the story of the grand funeral her mother told her about, the Thorms sparing no expense. It was soon followed by bloodshed, Ketheric turning away from Selûne, hunting down the enclaves.

Iliranne fought his forces off when they encroached on Neverwinter, Hyrcania getting the scar on her face from a Dark Justiciar. It was ingrained to her that House Alenthiel cannot follow the same path. If tragedy can strike down one of the most faithful families bound to Selûne, any of the other guardian house can fall to the same fate. 

It had made her mother paranoid. The thought of losing Baetica and Hyrcania was a sore spot for Iliranne that it drove her to have another child out of fear: her. "For better or worst, your death set off ripples that can't be undone. Why didn't you say anything?"

"I couldn't risk it. Not with everyone else relying on me," Isobel said. "I wasn't about to tell them that I am the enemy's daughter. Marcus proved my caution was necessary. I never meant to deceive you."

Belladonna looked at Isobel, very much still a picture of a Silverstar; one of Selûne's chosen still carrying the heavy burden of her station. But something was still off. "There's still a part missing in all of this." Isobel looked at her, Bella recalling what she was taught. "During your time, cells operated in pairs. No cleric ever left the temple or enclave without a guardian. As one of the high houses, and being a Thorm, you would have been assigned a paladin." Isobel froze. Bella pulled the broach from her pocket, holding it up to Isobel.

"Where's your paladin, Isobel?" Bella asked, Isobel eyes flashing in anger then sorrow.

"I...I dont know," Isobel admitted. "And that's what worries me."

The decision to explore the desolate town of Reithwin was made for them, Art taking a turn for the worst. Isobel informed them of all the buildings in the area, drawing them a map based on her memory. They dispatched the shades along the way, Bella noting an old statue of  Ketheric in the middle of the plaza. She wondered how the area was before its fall, wondered if there was a time where her own mother and sisters passed through here.

The group split in two once again, Wyll, Lae'zel and Gale  checking out the tavern while the rest of them tried what Isobel said was the House of Healing. Belladonna summoned every ounce of will to not lash out against Malus Thorm. The House of Healing set off every warning bell in against the undead in her mind. All of Reithwin did but it was far worst here. 

They had managed to convince Sister Sinda that their ailment was that of the head, the undead nurse pretty much ushering them into the operating room immediately. Her touch made Bella shiver, feeling the pull of her oath crumbling with every step in. 

Shadowheart clocked the doctor to be Sharran as they walked in, Bella cursing in her mind as she felt the tendrils of darkness whispering, the pull being stronger as they approached. "Step forward. I can see the love of Shar darken your eyes. Be welcome."

The doctor was pontificating about something, Bella standing back to cover Shadowheart's right flank in case something goes awry as she spoke with the undead surgeon. She looked around the theatre, noting the other nurses, and the body in the middle. She heard Shadoheart speak, replying to the doctor, the echoes of the nurses making her shiver again. 

She had to trust Shadowheart in this, no matter what she had to trust that she would make the right decision and give them access to the man in the middle of the room. Belladonna closed her eyes, the whispers calling to her, beckoning to her to give in. She reopened them to see Malus poke out the man's eyes, making her turn away. 

Bella looked over at Karlach, wearing the same uneasy look on her face as she probably did, Astarion just watching the exchange with passive indifference. She saw a small smile creep onto Shadowheart's face, making her shiver slightly. "They need a better subject to practise on first, Not a student, but a master." 

The surgeon paused, weighing the option before nodding enthusiastically. "Yes...I see now. By example I must edify and quell the light that blinds us." He stabbed down at the body on the table, shoving it off as he lay on it. "Come, sisters. Soothe me."

Bella watched in horror as the nurses stabbed Malus to death, Belladonna's mouth hanging agape. "It's always nice when your enemies kill themselves for you," Shadowheart quipped, holding her mace at hand. "Let's clean up here and find what we're looking for."

She grabbed her sword, touching her gloved hand against it to enchant it with radiant light. "Gladly."

Belladonna watched as Shadowheart looked at the base of Ketheric's statue. Astarion tapped his feet in impatience as they watched her look over the plaques once again.

"Each of them can be pushed in," she heard Shadowheart whisper. 

"So we push them all in?" Karlach asked, moving to touch the plaque before being stopped.

"It has to be in order. Hang on," Shadowheart said pushing the first plaque "Our..." She moved to the next one, looking at it before moving to the last one, pushing it in. "Lady of..." She moved back to the second plaque "Loss. Mistress of Pain. When Night Falls, Thorm shall rise," she recited. "How obnoxious."

Bella couldn't help but agree as she pushed the final plaque in, all of them hearing a hidden door move, opening to a set of stairs. The pull of darkness called to her again as Shadowheart's eyes lit up. "This must be a sign," she said, crossing the threshold down the steps. Astarion followed, Bella and Karlach trailing at the back. Each step she felt the moonlight falter, the darkness surrounding them get stronger.

Three intricate statues of the Lady of Loss, hidden by time, came into their view, Shadowheart letting out a small gasp. Belladonna couldn't help but growl, Shadowheart levelling her with a glare as they made it to the landing. 

"Go back if you want," Shadowheart said, "I'll be fine."

"We're not leaving you," Bella said, eyes not leaving the statue in the middle. "Do what you need to do, I'll stay here."

"Bella," Shadowheart said, eyes soft, moving closer to her.

"I will not sway you from your prayers, And you cannot sway me from mine." Bella replied, looking down at the statue. "We can talk more later. Do what you must."

Shadowheart nodded, heading down the steps, Karlach trailing  behind her. Bella watch with Astarion as she moved about the room below, each small prayer feeling like an eternity. Bella looked at the statue below her, staring right at its eyes. What is Selûne's was also Shar's. Her being here, allowing one of Shar's own to continue her veneration, made her wonder who she was anymore. 

Would she really follow Shadowheart down this path? She looked at Shadowheart down below, now having moved to the second statue. She loved her, loved her with all of her heart and being. Was she will she forsake her own goddess to be with this woman?

Would Shadowheart even stay with her once Shar has her in her clutches? Shar would have her clutches on both of them, use them both to her bidding. Bella gritted her teeth, feeling like she was walking down the same bloody path the Ketheric walked, out of the people he loved.

Would she follow him though, continue down the same path as him that's led him to what he's become? A husk of a man, fueled by grief and pain, willing to sacrifice his very soul for a way to keep control of his loved one.

Or would she stay in the light and lose Shadowheart forever? Bella looked down to see Shadowheart and Karlach emerge from a small chamber, some items at hand along with Shadowheart's bleeding hand. Pain was Shar's domain. Blood sacrifices were required for all of her rituals. That's what she was taught. Milk was Selune's preferred conduit for rituals, all others, including Shar, was blood. 

Shadowheart looked at her, eyes shining brightly as she showed her the boons of her faith. But there was something more to her now. A renewed sense of hope, of duty.

Belladonna simply nodded, letting the rest of them go back up before her as she looked back at the statue of Shar.

Everything in these lands seemed to reinforce her conviction to Shar. Shar using everything in her power to lure Shadowheart back in and deeper into her embrace. She would lose Shadowheart either way, she felt. 

Just how, was the question.

Chapter Text

Shadowheart groaned out of frustration, trying to channel her innate power through to her spear, as Isobel did. She felt the fire bolt form, scorching the shaft of the spear, making her drop it once again at the heat. 

"Need some help?" she heard Isobel ask, making her turn and glare.

"No, thank you," she said, picking up the staff once again. "I'll learn it eventually."

"I meant what I said, Shadowheart. I don't mind showing you," Isobel replied, leaning against the wall up the steps. "But if you want to continue with your methods..."

She scoffed, turning away from the Selûnite to focus her task again. She felt the fire bolt form, pushing it into the spear as it heat up the shaft once more. Shadowheart gripped the spear tighter, willing herself to hold on as it burned her hand. She willed the fire down the spear but the burn was too much, making her let go again.

Shadowheart heard Isobel sigh, blue magic suddenly coursing through her as the faint whisper of the healing incantation flowed through her. "Close, but still so far."

"Don't you have anything better to do?!" Shadowheart lashed out, "Why do you keep bothering me?"

Isobel gave her a soft smile. "You have an air about you I can't place. Something familiar yet not at the same time," Isobel pushed away from the wall, unhooking her own spear from her back. Lightning immediately crackling from the spear. "Tell me, Shadowheart, your elven magic, does it come from your father or your mother?"

"I..." Her hand flared, making her gasp. She was suddenly more aware of Isobel's eyes watching her. "I'm an orphan. I don't know."

"The memories of your parents were robbed from you?" Isobel asked, voice full of concern

"Why are you even asking?"

"My mother had more elven blood than my father," Isobel explained. "Our latent magic, along with Selûne's blessing allow me to channel that magic into my spear," she pointed the spear out towards the empty docks, lightning arcing out. "Without either of their guidance, I wouldn't have been able to do that."

Shadowheart only glared at the explanation as Isobel put the spear back on the hook on her back. "If you'd allow me to guide you, I'll be happy to show you what my mother had taught me."

"I don't need more guidance from a Selûnite," she bit out, voice betraying her slightly. "I'll figure it out eventually."

Isobel let out another sigh, shrugging as she walked away. "You know where to find me. My door is open for you."

She picked up her spear, whispers from the Dark Lady bidding her to throw it while Isobel's back was still turned around. She could do it, she thought. The image of Isobel bloody on the ground, spear coming out of her would please Lady Shar so much but she blinked and Isobel was already gone.

If she killed Isobel, she would be dooming everyone else. Everyone they had rescued, have been and are still fighting for. The wound on her hand flared again, Shadowheart biting the inside of her cheek as she let the pain flow. Shar was angry but she couldn't go through with it.

There was something about Isobel she couldn't place but for now, she focused back to her task, fire once again flowing through her and eventually the spear, practicing what seemed to be an impossible feat that Isobel made look so easy.

She smiled awkwardly at the Harper Quartermaster came into the room, Tallis dropping off some of the special arrows Astarion had asked for onto his claimed bed. She watched quietly as she walked away, looking at the slumbering body of Art Callach in front of her before going back to the journal she was reading.

Halsin needed a break, having kept watch over the man for a good chunk of their time here. She had volunteered to stay with Art for the afternoon, giving Halsin a much needed rest. The rest of the group was scattered: Astarion, Lae'zel, Wyll and Gale had offered to go back to the Grove to resupply and gather some of the supplies Halsin required for the ritual. Karlach was busy playing with the children, distracting them as much as she could. Bella being pulled away for planning and to help Isobel with whatever Selûnite business they had to attend to.

She didn't mind the solitude. She loved spending time with the companions but it felt nice to actually have some downtime to just be by herself. Bella had left her with a cup of tea and a kiss, Astarion gagging at the display only to get hit by Karlach. 

She looked around to make sure she was alone before pulling another journal from her pack. She wasn't sure when else she would be able to read this but today presented her the perfect opportunity.

Notes, five journals of them along various scrolls on Selûnite enclaves left by a Dark Justiciar keeper, hidden in the final room of the hidden shrine. Shadowheart thanked her Lady that Karlach had stayed back from the altar's pedestal, allowing her to secure the books before grabbing the potions. She looked down at the loose piece of paper that came with the journals, outlining what city corresponded to what volume. 

She commended the previous librarian for their work, each major city of the coast labelled and detailed. The information was older but it gave her a rare glimpse of how they operated. She had no memories of her own cloister, everything before the mission given up to protect them but this...someone went through and documented every enclave and devotee of the Selûne, infiltrating them to their core only to end up betraying them. 

Or was it the circumstances of the war that had passed? Shadowheart thought. A turn cloak to Selûne's faith like Ketheric but far more detail oriented. Infiltration was one of Shar's principals; to be unseen and unheard within her darkness. Who ever this was likely operated alone. Always alone to protect her Lady's secrets and the rest of the cloister.

She wondered why for the mission to retrieve the Astral Prism, it was a group of five. Was that decreed by Lady Shar or was that just a decision made by Mother? It was a change of pace from the norm of working alone. Not that she minded her previous group but the dynamics were immediately off.

Compared to now.

Even if it was one less, the group always covered each other's weaknesses. She didnt remember much of the mission she was sent on other than witnessing the rest of her group get murdered by the Gith. She remembered the spell on them wearing away just as a sword was pulled from their mage, the rest of them running back towards the portal but it was too late. Far too late. 

She flipped through the volume containing information about the presence of the church of Selûne in Baldur's Gate, seeing various Selûnite names crossed off. Three names caught her eyes, a name she was very familiar with.

Alenthiel, Iliranne - Paladin of the the Swords of the Lady - See notes in Neverwinter. High Houses are NOT to be taken lightly. See first volume for more information.

She paused at the illustration of Belladonna's mother, harsh stern eyes looked back at her coldly. She could see where Bella's conviction came from, sharing the same stern look when she's serious about something. She had seen the gentler side of Belladonna, the mischievous side of her as well, but looking down at the woman on the page, she wondered how she actually was. Shadowheart looked at the two other portraits, Bella's older half sisters and their partners. 

Shadowheart studied the younger portraits, seeing bits of Belladonna in her sisters but she could tell how different they were compared to her lover. Shadowheart wondered if they would ever meet. Belladonna had shared with her that she wasn't close to her sisters so she doubted they will. She turned to the first volume, flipping through the pages until she found what she wanted to know. "The High Houses of the Moon," she read out loud. 

High Houses of the Moon - 7 eyes, 7 houses. Each guardian house bound by oath, and at times by blood to protect the Gates of the Moon. Ketheric once told me that Shar has claim on all 7 houses as well, but the houses take their charge often too seriously. Each house are of Eladrin descent, many still carrying pure elven heritage (see House Alenthiel and House Ni'Tessine) but the rest are half-elven.

Some are too out of reach to be eliminated however, the rest have settled in and around the Sword Coast. Check for them as well at Evermeet. Ketheric wants to focus in on the elimination of those in the coast, and that's what we will do.

In case it has to be laid out for the novices: Approach each member of the houses with utmost caution. They have been blessed by the moon witch herself. Most of them, especially Ni'Tessine and Ahmaquissar, are zealots. They will not hesitate to kill us, so do not hesitate to kill them.

If a member of the house captured, bring back to Reithwin alive for interrogation. If killed, bring back to Reithwin as well. I'm sure our necromancers have a use for them. 

NOTE: Use of the High Houses blood can be used to open the portal to Arvandor and by extension, to the Gates of the Moon. Do NOT go to Arvandor. Selûne's forces and allies are bound to destroy us on sight.

Shadowheart frowned at the information, knowing full well what has since occurred. The pain brought on by Shar's influence on the land was hard to take in. She should be happy about it, pain and loss being shar's cornerstones but seeing it through the others eyes, how it's affected everyone and everything in this land... It made her shudder.

The wound on her hand flared at the thought of empathy, as if Shar was actively trying to silence it from her head. She couldn't help but see the destruction along that came with the loss. How many battle fields did they pass? How many bodies? So many restless souls left out in the shadows aching for peace that cannot be granted to them unless she helped lift her own god's curse from the lands. 

She had felt so alone back in the cloister, save for the one friend she remembered due to the noblestalk. She wasn't so alone now but she still felt it whenever there was a pull from Lady Shar. She wanted to help, wanted to do what was right but the wound on her hand was more punishing day by day. It would render her unable to move most mornings now, silently thankful that her partner was usually out of the room by then.

Shar wanted to remind her that she belonged to her. To her darkness.

But she had been in this light for weeks now and she had grown fond of it. She remembered one of her watches with Astarion, the man admiring the morning sun with such reverence that she couldn't help but also admire it. Both of them were cast into the darkness, Astarion forcibly and her being rescued into it. Both their existence prior to the nautiloid was within the confines of the dark but to see him in that private moment enjoying the raising sun made her yearn for it as well. She understood then why Astarion preferred that watch, masking it as something he didn't want to do but privately adored.

She looked outside of the window, seeing the moonlight shield the inn and she wondered if she was truly meant for the darkness. 

Belladonna smiled at her, entering their shared quarters with the softest footsteps she could muster in full plate armour. "Miss me?"

"Should I have?" Shadowheart teased, returning the smile. "I was missing the sound of your voice, yes. How was your mission with Isobel?"

"Fruitful," Belladonna replied, stretching in her armour. "Found what we needed. Have a small task back at Reithwin to deal with but that can wait. Are you ready for our walk or should I tell the Harpers to take this one and we can take the next one?" She knocked on her armour.

"Might as well do it now," she said, leaning up to give her a kiss. "Perimeter check duty again for us?"

"I may have asked to switch with Wyll and Karlach," Bella admitted, small blush gracing her sun-kissed cheeks. "We haven't had much time for each other, just the two of us."

"Help me with my armour then," Shadowheart asked, getting a nod as Bella grabbed her leathers. She slipped into her gambeson, putting the chain shirt on after as Bella gave the front half of her leathers to her, moving to the back to help fasten the belts on. It had become a small ritual for them to help each other with their armours, silently working together to ensure each other was protected. Bella handing her the spaulders, helping secure the other side to her leathers, making sure the hooks for both her shield and spear wouldn't slip out of the belt. She gave Bella a nod, putting on her gloves, flexing the knuckles as Bella moved towards the door. 

They moved toward the front of the inn, Shadowheart following Bella across the bridge into the darkness. They followed the a familiar path, both of them keeping a vigilant eye out for any shades or Absolute cultists that may encroach on the area. Bella was right, they had been distant from each other, mostly due to their schedule but also due to her own turmoil about being here. "Remember when you said your favourite flowers were Night Orchids?" Bella cut through the silence, making her look up at the Paladin.

"Rings a bell...Why?"

Belladonna shrugged, "No reason."

"Come now," Shadowheart said, tugging on Bella's cape for her to stop. "What are you hiding?"

Belladonna pulled a flower from her pouch, a familiar dark blue purple she had memories of. "Jaheira helped me find it. Take it."

"Oh hells, you didn't pick that by hand did you?" she said in a panic, Bella's eyebrows rising. "They're deadly poisonous!"

"They are?!"

She let out a laugh, "Joking!. They're safe and beautiful. Thank you."

Belladonna sighed, chuckling at the joke. "For a second there, I thought you weren't. I was about to run back to Jaheira and ask her."

"Oh so you'd run to the high Harper instead of your girlfriend?"

"She was the one that helped me find it, might have know if there was an antidote."

"In any case, thank you," she leaned up to kiss Bella on the cheek. "I don't have anything to give you though."

"Just answer me this question, why have you been so distant? Even when we're together, you seem to not be present." Bella held her hand. "I know we've had our fights, our differences. But it seems like there's something else you're hiding."

Shadowheart sighed, looking up at the moonless night. "Ever since we entered these lands, I've felt like something is calling to me. Some purpose that I need to find." She paused to look at Bella. "The shrine we found, I felt her acceptance, her wisdom, her confidence that I was on the right path. That this is all leading to something bigger."

Belladonna didn't hide her frown, Shadowheart touching her lover's face with her gloved hand.  "Give me sometime, please. If I can figure out whatever it is that I need to do, then there should be more time for us."

"Okay..." Belladonna replied. "I trust you. I'll help you with what I can. But as I've said to Isobel, I will not be able to chose between you and my faith. We both know what this may lead to, Shadowheart. I've made my peace with my choice." Bella stroked her cheek.

"Have you?"

Chapter Text

Bella cracked her knuckles, giving a nod to Isobel who stood on the other side of the barrier. The others had already gone down to the shore edge, Halsin doing the final touches of the ritual into the Shadowfell. "Do you think this will work?" she asked the cleric, Isobel watching intently.

"I trust Halsin, but I too have my doubts. We have to trust him though. For the lands to heal, it has to work," Isobel replied. "The Harpers and I will make will provide aid if you give the signal."

"With all of us, hopefully we won't need you to," Bella said, unhooking her shield. "But thank you, none the less."

Isobel nodded, Bella moving down towards the ritual area, feeling the nervousness in the air. They had gone over the plan twice already but she could tell the rest of the group was still apprehensive. "Everyone ready?" she asked, tapping Astarion on the shoulder, making him jump.

"The sooner we get through this, the better," Astarion chirped out, readying his bow. "You know I don't feel good after using your holy weapons."

"It's just for this, I will never make you use them again," Bella said, handing him another vial of holy water. Astarion hissed but took it, holding it away from himself. "Halsin, are you ready?"

"Nearly done," he said, drawing another symbol on the stone.

"Shadowheart, top of the outcrop with Astarion. Give you both the vantage point for healing and arrows. Gale and Wyll, just below. Blast them away. Gale, haste on Karlach if you can, retreat back up to Shadowheart if you need some defense. Call for help if you get surrounded." Belladonna relayed, turning to Lae'zel and Karlach. "Karlach right of the portal, cut anything down that might get through. Lae'zel, take middle. You can catch anything that eludes Karlach and help defend the portal if need be. I'll take the left."

"Understood," Lae'zel said with a nod, the rest nodding as well. 

"Halsin?" Bella asked, getting a nod from the archdruid. She watched as he started his incantation, finishing the final strokes to the portal to the Shadowfell. The candles strained to keep their light in the encroaching darkness, Bella feeling the shadows shriek as he finished his spell. The portal glowed it's grey-white light, the wind shrieking beyond it. She watched as Halsin disappeared inside, the first of many wraiths rushing towards them.

"Macte Virtute," Bella cast, jumping down to the outcrop to slash at the shadow hound that leapt toward her. It reeled, barking at her as it lunged again, Bella parrying its bite with her shield. Astarion's arrow flew past her head, Bella watching as it imbed itself into a resurrected Harper, barely making a dent. She gritted her teeth she felt Wyll's magic hit the same target, blowing part of its arm off but it continued to lumber forward. 

"Ocior," she heard Gale say, Karlach scream out in her rage in tandem along with a flitting laugh. It felt weird being in a bigger formation but she knew all of them was needed for this. Shar's forces wouldn't want her influence on the land to end. This had been her domain, her extension outside of the Shadowfell. 

Bella wondered how Shadowheart felt helping them in all of this. This was a clear betrayal to her goddess, her helping them. She heard her cast a familiar incantation behind her, bright radiant light filling the darkness. She couldn't help but look back at Shadowheart, admire her in the glow of the light. Shadowheart yelled for Astarion to get back, throwing one of the vials of holy water near their feet as they back up closer to the portal. 

She focused back on the battle in front of her and saw another set of revived corpses rise from a far, making her grit her teeth. Arrows were let lose from a far, Bella scanning for the archers closer to the dome. "Astarion! Wyll! Focus the archers!" she yelled out. Dodging another bite from a shadow hound, she felt its teeth clench around her leg as she ran past it, another managing to bite onto her arm.

Shadowy spiked tendrils moved past her, Wyll repelling them back as he covered for Astarion to get into position. It wasn't enough as it hit him, sending him right into Gale making both of them fall off the outcrop. Lae'zel grunted in disapproval, moving positions to cover for the fallen two, picking Gale up first as he seemed dazed. "Cover...Cover Karlach!" she heard him say, Bella whipping her head to see Karlach now surrounded and lethargic. This wasn't good. They needed more time. More waves was descending onto them.

***You know what you must do,*** a familiar voice spoke to her in her head. Bella gritted her teeth, not wanting to tap into that side of her again. The same voice the dream visitor has used against her crept in the back of her mind, the memories of her training under her mother making itself known again.

***Shar is our enemy. You were made to destroy her. To rid her presence from this plane.***

*You're wrong...I'm more than that.*

There was the same bitter laugh she remembered from her childhood, the tight grip on her jaw pulling her up to look into the cruel eyes of her mother. *No you're not. You know your purpose girl.*

Bella's eyes roamed the battlefield, feeling the desperation in the air as another volley of arrows flew towards the portal. Lae'zel was too busy covering for Karlach, Wyll doing his best to defend Shadowheart while Astarion was slow to get up.

***Remember your training, Belladonna.***

How much longer did they have to defend? How many more bodies was Shar going to throw at them for this purpose? Bella slashed forward at the hounds, pumping some of her healing into her when she saw them: the tieflings they had saved not too long ago in the grove. Xeph was lumbering towards her, no weapon at hand.

***Remember your oath.***

"ENOUGH!" she cried out, bright white radiant light coming off of her, burning the hounds around her as the radiant light focused onto her longsword. Bella slashed through the undead Harper in front of her, losing herself to the familiar movements that came from training. She barely heard Shadowheart cry out as she impaled one of the undead Githyanki with her sword, pulling them to turn around and seeing those she didn't get taken down by both Karlach and Lae'zel now backing her up.

She barely registered that the portal was gone, that Halsin was back the young boy. The shadows were beaten back except for one.

"Bella..." she heard her name get called out but she ignored it, eyes focused on the remaining shadow. She felt movement, two pairs of strong arms holding her back but she pushed against them.

"Heretic..."

"She's not! You know who that is! She's a ra'stil, an allly!" Lae'zel reasoned. "Your chosen!"

"Upon my oath..."

"Cut the crap and snap out of it, Belladonna!" She felt a fist hit her face, making her turn towards where it came from. Karlach leered down at  her. "I swear to your goddess that if you go touch her, I will send you back to meet her again."

"No mercy for the wicked." Bella said, disappearing from their grasp to materialize closer to where the rest of the group was. Karlach and Lae'zel shouted for her but she didn't hear them, focused on the final shadow.

"Fulgor!" lightning coursed through her stopping her as she looked back to an upset Isobel, allowing Karlach and Lae'zel to catch up to her. She struggled against their hold again until she heard Isobel call out to her in Elvish. "Sha'Quessir. Stop," the command flowed through her, the spell taking hold long enough for Isobel to come down and touch her on the forehead. Belladonna blinked, feeling the voice of her mother get silenced. "Does this happen often?" Isobel asked her companions.

"It's happened once before. It hasn't happened since...well there was one other but she used it to kill an cultist, it wasn't against Shadowheart. Does that count?" Karlach rambled.

Isobel looked into her eyes, Bella trying to avert hers under the scrutiny of the Silverstar. "We will talk about this later."

Belladonna nodded, Lae'zel and Karlach finally letting her go. She looked up at the outcropping, Halsin already walking back to the inn with the boy while Shadowheart bickered with Astarion to stay still as she healed him. Wyll and Gale waved at them, Gale meeting Bella's eyes, knowing he saw what just happened. She let out a deep sigh, thanking both Lae'zel and Karlach for their help before following after Isobel, both of them knowing the hard talk to come.

"Bella's being benched?" Wyll asked, Jaheira nodding as she put her swords on her back. "No offense, High Harper but..."

"No buts, young Ravengard. Isobel wants her to stay back, and she's outranks all of us here," Jaheira explained. "The rest of you are to help Halsin in more pressing matters. He's leaving soon so you better rest up."

Bella stood to the side of the room listening, still feeling the numbness from Isobel's lightning coursing through her. She could tell the rest of the group by the decision, Gale, Karlach and Lae'zel just watching her as she moved to her room. She caught Shadowheart's eyes, concern etched in them but she continued to press Jaheira for answers.

"Ask Isobel!" The High Harper cried out, shooing the rest of them away from her table. "Go! Eat! You have a trek to prepare for. Just not here around me! Go!"

She entered their shared room, sitting on the bed trying to figure out how to explain what just happened to Isobel. How does she explain this to her without throwing her family, the rest of the Swords of the Lady into further scrutiny by the rest of the Church? They were the guardians of Neverwinter, one of the biggest cities that follow Selune....

A knock on the door broke her out of her thoughts, Shadowheart opening it to come in and sit beside her. "Isobel said you're a threat to me. Care to explain?"

"I have been deemed a threat to the team, especially you," Bella said weakly. "I am to stay behind if everything we've planned is to continue."

"Most of that plan hinges on you and your divine powers as well as mine," she reminded her. Shadowheart took her hand into hers. "Bella, what happened?"

"The Temple of Selûne happened," Belladonna replied. "Only this time, I've learned how to teleport around the battlefield, thanks to training with Gale and Wyll and you. The blind zealot version of me was apparently set to use that newly learned magic to get to you." Bella pulled her hand away to look at them. "I could see everything but I couldn't stop myself. You were a shadow, one of Shar's creatures, no different from the ones we were just fighting and that scared me. And that was the only thing I could see. It took Karlach, Lae'zel and Isobel to stop me. Isobel had to reign me in with lightning."

Shadowheart was silent during the explanation. "Isobel doesn't want me to be a liability to you all. And I know you'd want to oppose her on this but she's right. I have to say behind for all of your sake."

"Is that how you still see me? As one of Shar's followers, as figure of shadow?" Bella could feel the hurt behind the questions. 

"I've made peace with the fact Shar is still your goddess, Shadowheart." Bella said. "I am still choosing to love you, even if our goddesses are opposed to it. But even you should know that it's going to take a long time for us to get passed that fact. I cannot unlearn years of training in a heartbeat as much as I would love to."

"What...what if there was a way to forget? Forget just that part of you that hates her?" Shadowheart asked, looking up at her. "Not everything, just that part of you that makes you go blind with rage when you see me."

Bella thought about it. What if there was a way to forget? What if...

***Heresy...***

"No," she replied, getting up from the bed. "That is as much a part of me as Shar is a part of you."

"What are you going to do then? You can't be confined here forever. We need you out there with us. You a the spearhead of this bloody group and frankly, I don't think anyone else can step up, not even me." Shadowheart questioned, looking up at her from her seat.

"I don't know."

Bella stood before the statue of Selûne, looking up at her goddess, her mother's bracelet at hand. "I'm not forsaking you," she said holding up the bracelet. "I just don't know how I'm supposed to continue with this when I can lose control like this. Though I guess I can't blame you for what my mother taught me. Doesn't help that this guardian is using her face..."

Bella put the bracelet down at the altar, pouring some milk into a bowl as an offering. "Why did you put me on this journey?" she asked quietly. "This is getting harder and harder by the day. Being here, in these lands, I feel myself slipping further and further away from your teachings."

She looked up at the carved marble statue, hidden again from everyone's eyes. Bella wondered why, at this corner of Faerun, each time she's had to do this, it's been in a cave somewhere. "They really don't like you here, don't they? Every place of your worship had to be hidden, your temple destroyed...The Thorms changed everything..."

She let out a sigh, thinking about the mission that was going on without her. The others left hours ago. While she was sure they would be fine, she couldn't help but wonder if she was even needed for it. "Why did you forsake this area, my lady? So many lives sacrificed in a war...the unending war...Even I'm part of it now, with Shar's chosen champion it seems."

She heard footsteps from behind her, Bella half-turning to see Isobel with two tankards at hand. "Thought you'd be here." Isobel said, bowing to the statue before her. "Bothering our goddess?"

"Rambling to more like it," Bella said, rubbing her tired eyes. "I know she wants us more to have freewill but its times like this that I wish she would come and help."

Isobel sighed, looking up at the statue. "Divine Intervention shouldn't be that common, you know that."

"Yet she was still able to pluck me from the City of Judgement and send me back to fulfill what ever this is..." Bella said bitterly. "Convinced she is always watching over us, but no longer certain she is listening to our prayers."

"I won't be able to convince you that this isn't a hard path, Belladonna. But you know there has to be a purpose for it."

"I just wish it wasn't so cryptic."

"Is this how you normally feel, how you felt before all of this happened?" Isobel questioned, lighting the candles on the altar

"No. Before all of this, I was just one of the soldiers of the church. I would be tasked to guard the clerics and the monks when they were needed. No one knew I was part of the high houses unless I told them I was. I was nothing. I was happy...I was..." *free* Bella thought, not finishing the sentence.

"Now, I have this pressure on me to keep the group alive! I have to resist the urge to use the skills ingrained into me otherwise I stand a good chance on kill the person I love. It feels like the gods decided it would be fun to send out their champions and chosen ones against this new cult and I just happen to fall for Shar's chosen." She sighed, tension leaving her but the bitterness was still there. "I cannot fault our lady for the poison that had seeped into our church but the fact she let it spread so far, that towns like Reithwin, so devoted, was able to fall to Shar...that your house was able to fall to Shar..."

"Bella," Isobel said. "You cannot hold this burden just on yourself. That is not what she's tasked you to do. You know this," Isobel reminded her. "Yes, Selûne chose to wait and we cannot undo the tragedies of the past, but she must have had a reason for it. 100 years later, her pieces are beginning to move: You, Me and even Shadowheart to a certain point. Reithwin might have been swallowed by darkness but we saw that some never lost their faith and hope. We have to keep that faith and hope in her alive."

"How can you remain so devout after so long?" Bella asked.

"It...It helps to have a connection," Isobel said, pulling the pin she gave her out of her pocket. "Aylin was special. She was my love, my everything. I miss her and I am holding hope that once all of this is said and done, I can find her again."

They stood in silence as the moonlight came through the crack in the wall, illuminating the statue. "We have to have hope, Belladonna. She hears you, I know it."

"I hope she doesn't smite me for losing some faith," Bella replied. 

"Just to be sure to offer another prayer for you tonight. I'll make sure to put in a good word." Isobel teased,  bowing at the statue before turning around to go back. Bella bowed as well, following the Silverstar down the path.

"So Aylin?" Bella asked, trying to remember if she had heard of the name. "Your Paladin I take it. How'd you meet?"

"Sheildmeet," Isobel said with a smile. "She swept me off my feet our first meeting. She was glorious in battle, even better in..."

"Please don't finish that sentence," Belladonna cut in, both of them laughing. "She must have been special to sweep a Thorm off her feet."

"She was. I miss her dearly."

Bella held the door open for Isobel, closing it behind them with the key they had found before giving it back to Isobel. "Thank you. For listening."

"Anytime," Isobel said, playfully punching her on the shoulder. "I've missed working with a brooding Paladin. You all take your stations too seriously."

"And you clerics, not seriously enough," Bella joked back. They made their way back to the docks just in time to see Shadowheart round the corner. 

"There you are!" Shadowheart said, smile fading once she sees Isobel with her. "We found him. We found Oliver. Halsin's with him...them now."

"Right!" Bella nodded at Isobel, following Shadowheart back inside to the shared quarters. Everyone looked beaten, tired, Bella immediately pumping healing spells into Wyll and Lae'zel as she watched the young boy hover the body of the other. He looked up at Halsin, giving him a nod. The boy, Oliver, hesitated but touched Thaniel, disappearing before them.

She heard Shadowheart gasp, holding onto her wound with gritted teeth. Belladonna moved behind her, holding her, thanking her for helping them as they both watched Thaniel wake, flowers blooming, the first signs of life blooming in the darkness.

Chapter Text

Shadowheart smiled an tense smile at Karlach, the other beaming at her as she went around giving everyone a celebratory mug of ale. The rescue of Thaniel was a success, but why did she feel uneasy?

She knew why, the wound on her hand throbbing as it did another one of its flare ups. It was one of the more manageable ones but still made her grit her teeth. Her lady was not happy with her helping lessen her influence on this land. Thaniel was in the Shadowfell for a reason but now...

The wound subsided and she was able to exhale. She watched as everyone celebrated, one step done, a handful to go. Bella stood by Isobel speaking in soft whispers but she couldn't figure out what was being said. There was the jealous voice in the back of her head that wanted to drag Belladonna away from Isobel but Bella had been nothing but loyal to her.

Yes...Loyal...

The voice in her head lingered on the word. Belladonna was loyal to a fault: to her goddess, to the group, to her. Was it her or her oath though, she wondered? To Selûne, Shadowheart felt like it was out of obligation that she was loyal, in her own words, duty and blood tied her to the Moonmaiden. Having read about the High Houses, she now understood the blood ties a little bit more, especially when it came to the Gates of the Moon.

To the group, she would never leave any of them behind. As much as she hated the creche, she knew that it was necessary for Lae'zel. The fact they took a week to go back to Waukeen's Rest just to barter with the Zhentarim for a piece of Infernal Iron for Karlach meant the world to her. She had seen Bella's own journal, often left open on her lap when she drifts into a trance, quill still in had of what else needed to be done. 

And to her... Shadowheart sighed into her ale. The fact Bella paused in their early conversation about using the Mirror of Loss for her. The fact she considered it, only even if it was brief spoke volumes.

She felt herself shudder, as if the darkness pulled back a little. Shadowheart looked around her, wondering what it was. No...She looked over at where Bella was and wondered to herself if Shar intended her to use that loyalty to turn her to them. 

She's joked about it, a playful retort to Bella asking if Shar approved of them but she has told no. 

But if there was a way to sway her, to possibly show her that they could be together in her Lady's darkness...still together... 

Would Lady Shar allow her that? 

All of Shar's teachings have told them that their love was for her and only her. That love for another person was just a lie...

But she's seen how much Belladonna loves her. Felt her warm embrace most nights now as she fell asleep. She knew that every time she stepped foot into a Sharran space was another step closer to breaking her oath, especially that the greater evil in this place was her own matron. She wasn't blind as to how much more Bella was praying to the moonlight, how eager she was to helping Isobel in anyway she could to counteract anything she does with her. 

But if Lady Shar allowed her bring her into her embrace, surely she would not only benefit from it but she would bring about the fall of Selune's own chosen, much like the Thorms.

She would earn her love a thousand fold.

Shadowheart lifted her mug up when the toast was called, taking a sip while keeping an eye on her lover. She knew how she struggled with the darkness.

Maybe...just maybe...she could help her embrace it instead. Belladonna looked at her, eyes watching carefully as if she knew something. She would have felt the tadpole squirm if she used it but it was quiet. She gave her a wink, Bella averting her gaze with a blush that made her smile to herself. 

She slipped out of the room once the singing started, making her way out of the inn, to look over the dark waters of the docks to think about her next move.

For herself and her goddess.

She didn't know how long she sat by the docks, just doubting herself and the path she was now on. It wasn't until she felt Karlach sit themself down beside her did she tune back in to the world.

"Still not one for parties, huh?" Karlach asked, pouring her some wine. 

"Not that I don't mind them, it's just..." she paused, wondering what the correct word would be for how she felt. "Different."

Karlach snorted at the word. "Different is good. At least in this sense at least." She saw Karlach look over to her. "Something's bothering you though. What is it?"

"It's nothing. Really."

"Nothing my arse," Karlach pressed, poking her on the shoulder. "Nothing would mean you would be joking in there with us, laughing at Wyll's escapades and rolling your eyes at Gale explaining things. Nothing would mean you glaring daggers at Lae'zel and Isobel while making your flirty eyes at Bella. Nothing would mean you lecturing Astarion not to teach the children how to steal with a smile on your face. This," Karlach waved their hand around her. "Whatever is happening here is not nothing. It's something."

Karlach paused, sitting to sit cross legged beside her. "I know better than to bottle up what I'm feeling, Shads. Tell me what's wrong."

"Please don't call me that," she asked, earning a laugh from her friend. Shadowheart kept looking into her cup, wondering where to start. "How do you keep being so good when it's easier to be full of hate?"

Karlach blew a raspberry, thinking about what she asked. "Hate is easier to fall into. Hate is fuel that can keep burning if you let it. But eventually, you end up burning yourself." Karlach let out an exhale. "I had to learn how to harness my hate to fuel me when I needed it. But I never lost what was good because that's what kept me...me. I think you know that too. Some part of you must know that what your goddess is spewing into your pretty little noggin isn't right."

Shadowheart bit the inside of her cheek as the wound flared, pain coming in a smaller burst before subsiding. "I'll admit, staying true has been difficult as of late. I find my mind wandering. My thoughts keep drifting to things I was told was forbidden. Forbidden by my lady for a reason. I'm not ready."

"Bullshit," Karlach said. "Based on what I've seen, anything your goddess forbids is good to have in your life. Your little wound flares up whenever you're being kind. It zaps you when you're just being your genuine self with us. You and I know that is bullshit. Don't deny it."

Shadowheart sat there thinking about what she had learned in the time they've been together. Her memories since the crash was hers and hers alone. No Mother Superior to tell her that she was wrong. No whips or canes to beat her back in line. She had been following her heart. Following what she thought was the right thing to do. She looked back at all the decisions they have made and even without Belladonna's influence, she knew she would make most of them again. She saw Karlach grin at her. "You're doubting yourself because you were taught horseshit smells like roses. You're finally smelling it for what it truly is and moving away from it. That's a good thing."

"You have a way with words," Shadowheart joked. "But thank you. For putting it bluntly. Sometimes I think too much."

"And I think too little. Together, we would have been a pair," Karlach laughed. "But Bella's a good catch too. Too broody for my liking but hey, whatever floats your boat."

"Broody?" Shadowheart asked.

"Yeah. Too serious, makes boring arse decisions most times but I guess that's what we need right now. Someone thinking straight for the rest of us. Gods know that isn't me, or you. No offense. It's not even Wyll at this point, with him being too worried about his dad and Mizora breathing down his ever loving neck." Karlach stopped to take a sip of her wine. "It's not Astarion that's for sure. He's too...broken. I really should figure out what's wrong with Fangs. Lae'zel just had her world turned upside down, and don't even get me started on Gale and his chest bomb or his ex. So that leaves Bella."

"And I know you're trying to help but ever since we got here, you've been different. I don't mind it but you pacing whenever we actually make camp and not be in the inn, it makes my head hurt." 

"I'll try to limit my pacing from now on," Shadowheart teased, bumping onto Karlach's shoulder. "I'll be honest, with everything going on, especially being under this," She looked up at the moon dome keeping them safe. "It's been hard to stay true to her teachings. Especially with such exceptional company."

"Bella that good in bed?"

"What?! No!"

"She's horrible in bed then? Sucks for you. Thought she'd at least be passable." Karlach took a sip of their wine, Shadowheart blushing.

"It's not...We havent..." Shadowheart downed the rest of her wine in one gulp, Karlach laughing at her. "We just sleep, that's all."

"Not even once?" Shadowheart shook her head. "Just purely sleeping with each other in the most literal sense of the word, as much as an elf would allow it I guess but really?" she nodded, Karlach groaning. "Damnit no wonder you're both so wound up tight. Fangs is right. You both just need to fuck your problems with each other away. Forget your goddesses for a night and just fuck each other silly."

Shadowheart laughed at the suggestion. "Too crowded here or at the camp for that."

"Spells exist and don't you even try to deny you've never used it during sex before." Karlach poked her shoulder. "I've seen your rope work. I know you have tricks up your sleeve, you little cultist."

"Perk of the upbringing, I guess," they both laughed. "Thanks Karlach."

Karlach gave her a genuine smile. "Anytime, Bangs."

She fell into a light slumber, Bella taking first watch from Halsin. Halsin assured her that he can still do it but her partner had insisted on it, Halsin taking it as an opportunity to help settle Thaniel into the camp. Her mind replayed the last couple of days, settling into the gruesome scene with Malus Thorm and the House of Healing. She heard his voice echo, the sisters voices echoing the answer.

Absence.

Of Light. Of Fear. Of Hope.

Of Love.

That is what Shar teaches. 

That all is meaningless in her darkness. That nothing will endure outside of hate. She squirmed as her mind replayed the undead doctor cut into the man on the operating table, feeling the cut on herself, burning through her stomach as if it was her on it. The pain became unbearable, cutting deeper that what she remembered as if it was real...

So disappointing... she heard, making her immediately sweat.

She woke to a black empty void. Shadowheart immediately knowing where she was, the dark tendrils caressing her face as it reformed into fingers, lingering on her chin until it gripped her harshly.

"I am ever so disappointed in you, Shadowheart." Shar said not letting her go. "First was at my own temple, bringing back a Selunite who died." She felt the scalpel dig deep, searing hot blade made her scream out but no sound came from her. It pulled out and she was able to breathe again. "And now, freeing one of my captives to help a servant of Silvanus. It's as if you were trying to anger me. Are you trying to anger me, my child?"

"No! I would never!" She felt the blade dig back in, this time on her hand. She felt a presence behind her, lips against her ears. 

"Then why do you continue to HELP THEM?!" She screamed, feeling a thousand daggers stab her, Shar lifting her up by the neck. "You have to find my temple. You have to cleanse the foulness that has permeated it."

"I will my lady! I will find it, I swear it."

Shar let her go, Shadowheart dropping onto her knees, hand going to her neck. She could feel the tears well up, wishing to be with Belladonna at that moment. She heard her mistress growl.

"Love is a lie, girl. Have I not taught you that?" She kept quiet, willing herself to push Belladonna out of her mind. "Does she know what you've done? How you truly are?" the voice moved to the other ear. "What has been done to you?" Shadowheart felt herself freeze. "You don't remember do you? Let me remind you, just a little bit."

Memories flooded her mind, making her convulse. The Nightfall rituals she had partaken in, killing innocents without care. The memory of the Kiss of the Lady she had been forced to participate in, remembering how she sobbed when she was forced to hold down a child much like Mattis down into the water until they stopped breathing. She felt her Lady laugh in her ear. "Oh no my sweet, you weren't forced to participate. You were eager to. You just didn't have the stomach for it. Remember what happened afterwards as your penance?"

"Stop please! No more!" she pleaded. "Let me forget again....please..."

"I could make you forget again...once you find my temple. You know the power the Mirror of Loss holds." Her mind goes to Belladonna and her hesitation to saying no when she offered to remove the part of her that hated Shar. Shar hummed with approval, "I see...You think she can be swayed."

"Yes..." Shadowheart choked out.

"Lying is unbecoming of you," she felt the fingers rake across her face, nails scratching across her cheeks.

"She trusts me...." Shadowheart argued, feeling the wound burn. "I can convert her...for you."

"Trust?" She felt Lady Shar laugh, raking her nails against her skin. "Trust will only lead you back to loss, child. Loss, Fear and Pain...They are the only things that endure.""

"Let's see how long they trust you," Shar said, Shadowheart shuddering as she felt the dark tendrils once again. "How will they trust you when your gifts no longer exist?" The pain on her hand stopped, the blade withdrawing with a coldness to it. She felt weaker, mind immediately going into a panic.

Let's see how they trust you after this.

Belladonna found her sobbing, hand bleeding onto her clothes and her blanket. She didn't recoil when she was touched, only sobbing further as Bella held her, letting her own divine powers heal her hand. 

She fell into a dreamless sleep, waking with Bella still laying beside her.

"What happened?" Belladonna asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"She...The Dark Lady is upset with me." Shadowheart replied. "She had to punish me for helping free Thaniel from the Shadowfell."

She felt Belladonna shift, arm wrapping around her waist. Shadowheart couldn't help sink herself into the embrace. "She took my magic..."

"She took your magic?" Bella questioned, Shadowheart nodding. Bella's jaw tensed, nostrils flaring in anger. She heard her sigh, pulling her closer. "She knows you have a good heart. She's punishing you for it."

She let silence fall between them, turning into her lover's embrace to bury herself in her shoulder. She had to find the temple...it was the only way she could get her magic back. Get back into Lady Shar's graces.

"I know what I must do, Bella," she admitted, mismatched blue silver eyes looking down at her with sadness. "She's told me what I need to do. Just promise me, whatever happens, you will trust me with it."

"Shadowheart..."

"Promise me, Bella." She touched Bella's face, the woman closing her eyes. "Please..."

There was still a beat of hesitation before she replied. "I promise."

Chapter Text

Belladonna felt the Shadowcurse around the inn had subsided significantly. There were signs of new blooms, new life especially as Thaniel walked around the area under the Harper's and Halsin's watchful eye.

But here, in Reithwin, the curse was far stronger. Shar was angry, her power waning now that Thaniel was out of her grasp. More and more tendrils, shades and shadow hounds have attacked them as they walked towards the Mausoleum, towards where Shar had told Shadowheart to go. She wondered if Dolly Dolly Dolly's magic would hold but so far, it has. 

They followed Shadowheart wordlessly, past the graveyard towards the Mausoleum at the very top. 

Isobel had warned her about it: what was once the resting place of at least 15 generations of Thorms and the town was now defiled beyond recognition. She had expected white marble, silver and steel bars around the smaller mausoleums but even just by the graveyard, this was now a foul, desecrated place. 

It was no doubt beautiful once. 

The closer they stepped to the top of the hill, the more she felt the darkness tug at her mind, as if Shar was whispering in her ears, beckoning her closer every step that she made.

The smell of sulfur hit her even from down the path, Bella letting out a growl as Karlach groaned behind her. She steeled herself for the encounter with Raphael, the devil reciting a poem much to their dismay.

"Oooh Spooky!" Karlach said sarcastically. 

"How long did you practice that, Raphael?" Bella asked, all of them stopping at least an arms length away from the cambion.

"Until it was perfect," he replied with a smile. "I see the whispers are true. The paladin's virtuous light now tainted by the dark; The cleric, reliant on the dark, now seeing the light. How quaint."

Bella felt both herself and Shadowheart tense at the accusation thrown at them. "I've grown quiet fond of your lot, you know. I thought it only fair to warn you of the dangers ahead."

"Whatever lies ahead is a test from my Lady, devil. We do no need your help." Shadowheart said, earning a chuckle from Raphael.

"Tell me, little half-elf. Have you told the rest that you cannot heal right now?" he asked, Belladonna closing her eyes to let out a deep sigh. She heard Astarion shift uneasily, Karlach's faint questioning "what" as Shadowheart bristled beside her. "I guess not."

"What do you want, Raphael?" Belladonna asked, glaring at him. 

"As I said, I've grown quiet fond of you. I thought to warn you of the dangers. I already know it would be pointless of me to try to bar you from entering but the least I could do is prepare you for your role inside."

"Get to the point, mate" Karlach added.

"Patience, dear Karlach. Though that was never really your strong suit, was it? Here, on me," he tossed a coin to them. A familiar looking coin. Karlach's rage was already simmering but Bella levelled her with a stare, making her stop.

"Without the pageantry and the poetics, please," Bella said, earning an eyeroll from the devil.

"I miss your wizard, he was more amicable when speaking in poetics," Raphael said, waving his hand. "Speaking plainly, there is a creature that lurks in the silence and shadow. A creature who, like me, is very much of the infernal persuasion."

"Fuck," Karlach yelled out. "Another demon? What kind?"

Raphael ignored them, eyes focused on Belladonna. "Should it make its way out through the very doors you are about to brazenly swing open, you'll have unleashed a pestilence upon this realm." Raphael explained. "Kill it. Consider no other course of action if you come upon it."

Belladonna sighed. A demon or a devil in a cramped space such as the mausoleum would take a lot out of them, especially with Shadowheart not having any magic outside of her natural abilities and the scrolls they had gathered. They didn't really have a choice since everything they were doing was leading here - Balthazar was in there, as per Z'rell. He was needed by Ketheric. Shadowheart's task was also within the tomb. "I'll deal with this menace, not for you. This does not make us allies, devil."

The smile that graced Raphael's face made her squirm. "I'd never think us allies, paladin. Perish the thought - and the devil too, if you'd be so kind." He paused, face becoming sterner than before. "Do not underestimate this opponent. At best you will have a blink of an eye to strike. Strike first. Strike true."

"If he's gotten you worked up this much, he must be something..." Karlach noted. 

"Do this for me, and I will take it as a favour," he turn to Astarion with a smile. "Or as payment to translate what is carved on your back." Bella's jaw tensed, Shadowheart growling at the implication of it. The earlier encounter with Raphael revealed one of Astarion's closely held secrets, Bella nearly striking Raphael down there and then if Mol wasn't around. 

Astarion was distraught over it, Bella reminding him that none of them had a right to judge him for keeping what is on his back a secret. While he thanked her for not pushing the subject, there was that sense of him wanting to know more. The script was foreign to all of them, even Gale and his magic couldn't decipher it. Isobel's font of knowledge on religion had no information on what was carved on his back, leaving them with no answers. 

Bella met his eyes a brief second, the look of hope in Astarion's eyes was there but very much tempered.

"A fairer deal than I expected." Astarion admitted, nodding to Belladonna. "I follow your lead."

"Yes, follow the paladin. I am curious if how she fairs. How all of this plays out." Raphael snapped his fingers, sulfur filling the air as he disappeared.

Bella let out a huge breath that she was holding, feeling the facade fall. She turned to the rest, Shadowheart not meeting any of their eyes. "I was going to tell you guys."

"We're already out here!" Astarion shouted. "We're all about to walk into a crypt of the undying man we've been tasked to kill and our resident cleric cannot heal us!"

"Astarion..."

"Is that why you've both been quiet?" He asked, hurt in his voice. 

"Yes."

"No." Bella turned to Shadowheart, wondering why she said no. "I've been thinking that none of you should be here. This is supposed to be my task."

"This is our task, given to all of us by Z'rell," Bella reminded her. "Whoever this Balthazar is, he is in there too. We have to find him and find out his part in all of this."

"What happened?" Karlach asked, Shadowheart looking at Belladonna. Bella stared into her lover's eyes, Shadowheart sighing and giving her a nod. 

"Shar happened."

The inside of the Mausoleum made her nauseous. Bodies - countless of them - was piled out of their tombs, made into unholy effigies or just scattered around the area without care.

Shadowheart could tell there was something was wrong with Bella. There was a tenseness about her, a general uneasiness that was there. She was more guarded, Raphael's words getting under her skin. She watched as Belladonna paused, casting out her magic, turning to all of them to cast one of her protection spells on all of them.

Burnt Selûnite banners lined the walls, defaced murals of Selûne either decapitated or torn down completely, greeted them beyond the gates. The screaming skull told them that Balthazar didn't need their help, Belladonna ignoring it as they approached.

A central marble sarcophagus, lit by soft candlelight lay untouched. The plaque at the foot of the sarcophagus was still polished, cared for. Elven script made all of them pause, Astarion bending down to look it over.

"Melodia Thorm. Beloved wife. Loving Mother to Thisobald and Isobel. Ai Armiel Telere Maenen Hir." Astarion read out loud, Belladonna just looking at the sarcophagus in front of them. "You hold my heart forever. How poetic."

"Isobel?" Karlach asked. "That Isobel? Our Isobel?"

Shadowheart looked at the grave, still adorned in the tell-tale signs of Selûnite silver and blue, untouched like the rest. She tried to recall what the books said about the Thorms, most of the pages ripped out or they were excluded since they converted to Shar. She felt her Lady's voice by her ears.

She's been lying to you

"She was...she is a Thorm..." Shadowheart whispered. "Isobel is a Thorm." She turned to Belladonna. "You're not surprised by this..." Bella shook her head. "You knew?"

"For weeks now."

She lied.

"And you kept this all a secret?" She asked. "You knew but hid it from us. From all of us!" *From me...* she thought.

"It's not my place to divulge another person's secrets for them. It is not up to me to reveal other people's pasts," Bella defended. 

What else has she lied about, I wonder...

"What else have you kept from us?" She asked, stepping back a bit. 

Belladonna looked down at her. "Am I not allowed my own secrets? Am I not allowed to keep some things to myself, even from you?"

Can you really trust her?

"Stop it, both of you," Karlach stepped between them. "Not the time. Let's figure out where this Balthazar fellow is and then we can figure out what secrets need to be a secret, yeah?"

Belladonna held her gaze, eyes not faltering as she continued to stare at her, through her.  The mask of the leader slipped back into place, Shadowheart turning away. "Spread out. Bring back anything that might give us a clue. Don't go to the back yet."

They all nodded, Shadowheart moving to beyond the sarcophagus to the table behind it. A crude map drawn and carefully labeled rested on the table. She blinked at the glyphs at the top, trying to remember her what she was taught when it all came together.

The Gauntlet of Shar.

Is this why her lady brought her here? Shadowheart felt her heart racing. The gauntlet of Shar. To be a dark justiciar.

It was here.

Belladonna followed Astarion to a small alcove, Astarion looked at her, speaking to her in Elvish. "Do you really trust her right now?"

"We have no choice."

"You could have left her behind."

"And she would have followed us, you know this." Bella sighed, looking backwards. "Would you rather have her here, where we can keep an eye on her or out there on her own?"

"I hate that I care," Astarion muttered. "This is why I don't do attachments."

"Sorry, older brother," Belladonna said, making him grimace at the term of endearment. 

"Never call me that. Gods..."

Bella stopped, Astarion stopping beside her. Bones...

Too many bones.

Her eyes drifted to the effigy on the floor, sneering at it. Is that who Balthazar was? Is that who Ketheric served before the Absolute?

Myrkul.

"Even for me, this is disgusting." Astarion noted.

Bella growled, kicking the effigy over as she passed it, bones falling onto the floor with a loud rattle. She felt anger well up.

Selûnite bodies, torn from their graves. Torn from their rest. 

Defiled for the Lord of Bones. 

"Bella," Shadowheart called out, trying to distract the woman from the anger that radiated from her. She looked over at her, eyes probably burning with rage. 

Selûnite doctrine clear about necromancy: not to be tolerated. Must be rooted out. The dead deserve their rest. She rubbed her eyes to refocus herself back to the task at hand, vowing silently to kill whoever did this.

If it was Balthazar, he will pay.

The ornate sarcophagus greeted them as they entered the back room of the mausoleum, Bella gritting her teeth to find it open. The elegantly carved marble tomb was pried open, whoever was in there now gone. She recognized the person carved on the lid.

"Isobel's not so final resting place," Shadowheart said, grimacing at the sight. "Wait," her hand stops all of them, pointing out what looked to be a pressure plate. "Traps," she said. "Astarion?"

"Left or right, darling?"

"Left."

Belladonna stood just beyond the threshold with Karlach, the other two finding and disabling any traps they find. Bella held the scroll open, reading the instructions on it. Ketheric's mural leered at her, Bella thinking of all the things that pushed the man to Shar. 

A paladin deeply in love, born into a house devoted to Selûne. Incomprehensible riches, many of their wants fulfilled by their coffers. Yet..

The man in the mural was the same broken man she had seen at Moonrise, only worst. Fuelled by malice, by such a tainted love that he himself didn't know who he was anymore.  

She was far too young to remember the House of Thorm, only being told their stories as a cautionary tale for her generation of paladins.

That all of them can break. All of them can fall to false promises. 

That they could lead be their house's ruin. 

"Bella,"" she heard Shadowheart call out, making her look to where she was. "What's the order?"

"His glory," Bella announced, Karlach moving to press the button under the mural of Moonrise, still under Selûne's divine light. 

"His fall," she watched as Astarion pressed the button under the mural of Isobel's death, of Ketheric as broken man. 

"His infamy," she nodded to Shadowheart, meeting her gaze before looking at the mural of Ketheric in the middle of the back wall. His fall to Shar. The endless war spilling onto Riethwin's streets, bringing about the Shadowcurse and all the pain over the last century.

The hidden doors moved, Bella wondering what else is waiting for them down there.

"The Gauntlet of Shar," Shadowheart said, looking down towards the elevator. "I...I can't believe it. We found it."

She turned to her companions, Karlach and Astarion confused as to what was going on but Bella remained unreadable, face surprisingly passive. They moved towards the elevator, the platform recognizing her. Hope bloomed in her heart, as the elevator moved, jerking slightly as the mechanism floated them down towards the hidden temple.

Shadowheart could feel the Dark Lady's presence engulf her, filling her with purpose. The emptiness was soothing, darkness helping her see the path set out for her.

This is her dream. Mother Superior be damned, she made it. 

Welcome my child, Shar whispered into her ears as they stepped into the dark marbled floors. Come, face your destiny.

You are my chosen, my one and only.

My Dark Justiciar.

Cleanse this place.

Face my trial.

Claim my spear.

Be who you are meant to be. Who you truly are.

"Become who I'm meant to be," Shadowheart whispered to herself. 

Shar's voice echoed through the chamber, greeting them. There was a familiarity to the voice, as if she's heard it before but Belladonna shook it off.

Shadowheart insisted on doing the task by herself, telling them She explicitly told them not to interfere, all of them standing back as she did the task by her lonesome.

Shar's statue stood before her, mocking her for even being here. Bella stared at it, feeling it mock her.

A Moon Knight in one of the most sacred placed for Shar.

In love with Shar's chosen.

Allowing her to continue whatever task she was set upon.

This was a mockery to everything she was taught. Bella closed her eyes and took a deep breath, willing herself to go to back to the statue of Selûne hidden in the cave below Last Light. She had to keep her hope. Had to keep her faith in her lady, even here in her sister's darkness.

Shadowheart moved to another set of braziers, turning their light off as they all continued to watch. One by one the fires were extinguished, engulfing the room bit by bit in its darkness.

Bella continued to stare into the statue's eyes, feeling Shar all around them, watching carefully as Shadowheart finished set out before her, knowing this was going to be the beginning of their end.

One way or another.

Chapter Text

Shadowheart grimaced as the skeletons spoke, Belladonna already not amused by the necromancy at play. They felt the ground shake, the skeletons shivering as they called for a retreat.

Dark portals emerged nearby, all of them getting ready for a fight as multiple dark figures in familiar looking armour emerged from them. Dark Justiciars...

Real Dark Justiciars.

Karlach screamed in their rage, rushing past them as she brought her axe down twice on the Justiciar nearby, Astarion's arrow hitting the same one. Bella disappeared from beside her, appearing behind the skeletons to pierce the dark justiciars behind them, second strike going into the skeleton.

The justiciars strike, hitting Bella on her sword arm as she dodged the other's sword, pushing away from both of them with a huff. The ones by Karlach struck them on their thigh, making the tiefling hiss as two missed arrows towards Astarion.

Shadowheart breathed deep, letting her innate magic flow through her, tossing a firebolt towards one of the justiciar's fighting against Bella, hitting it on the helmet, making it turn to her.

The empty helmet's gaze seemed pierce through her, as if it knew she too served the Dark Lady. There was a pulse that came from the dark portals, several justiciars emerging from them, making Belladonna growl in frustration. 

"Why are my Dark Lady's forces attacking us? Am I being tested?" she muttered out loud, striking the Dark Justiciar near her with her spear. 

"Destroy the portals! Stop them from summoning more!" The command came with two assertive strikes to the enemies in front of her, Bella muttering something to make her sword glow in radiant light. Karlach wailed on the portal close them making it vanish, Astarion shifting his focus to the portal further away, hitting it with a lightening arrow.

She saw one of the justiciars utter a spell, dark tendril sapping her of her strength as she ran past Bella to hit the portal with her spear. She felt Bella block a hit for her, Shadowheart moving to the other side of the portal for better cover. She felt the spell's continue to sap her strength, making her grit her teeth as she felt the portal pulse again, more Justiciars coming forth.

"Handle the portal, I'll cover you," Bella said, slashing through the skeleton before moving away, appearing behind the justiciar that had cast the spell on her. The ghost of her kin meeting its end once gain with the glow of Belladonna's blade poking out through where it's neck should be.

Shadowheart felt the spell around her fade, the rest of the fight coming to a quick end thanks to Karlach's brutal swings and Bella's radiant damage. Karlach shook as her rage simmered back down, Astarion emerging from the shadows that aided him during their fight.

Bella stood above the justiciar that lay at her feet, eyes still gazed downwards. Shadowheart felt the delighted smile of Shar by her ear, the faint praise coming form her lady but it felt wrong. There was a darkness around her now, a corruption of her divine powers. 

This wasn't Bella. 

The darkness around the paladin was unnatural, as if it was trying to engulf her. She saw it take form, a version of herself holding Belladonna close, sinister smile mocking her before she blinked and it faded.

She shuddered, looking at Belladonna again and wondering if what she saw was just an illusion or worst yet, her conscience manifested.

Bella watched as Shadowheart looked at the altar before them, reading the inscription. "Brave the Gauntlet of Shar. Surmount her trials, and rise as a Dark Justiciar."

Bella felt a shiver of revulsion go down her spine, remembering the stories she was told of many abductions of Selûnite in smaller communities. The Kiss of the Night was gruesome but the Gauntlet of Shar...

She mind drifted to her lessons with her mother - Iliranne practically spitting out venom when she spoke of the infamous gauntlet. That it was a reviled place that spat out some of the most vile, ruthless fanatics amongst the Sharrans.

It was a great shame for any Selunite to fall to a Dark Justiciar and now she was here, possibly helping Shadowheart to become one.

"So, what does this gauntlet entail?" Astarion asked, tapping his foot impatiently as Shadowheart continued to read the inscriptions.

"My lady's values are clear. We, her children that is, must excel in stealth, in combat and in navigating her sacred darkness."

"That is child's play, even for you," Astarion quipped, Shadowheart shooting him a glare.

"There is a final thing," she said walking back up to where they all stood. "She asks for a sacrifice. To become a Dark Justiciar, one must..." Shadowheart stopped, now realizing what she had just read. She looked up at her, eyes flashing quickly between confusion, sorrow, anger and regret.

"Say it," Bella said, challenging Shadowheart. "Say what it says so everyone knows what your Dark Lady is asking for."

Shadowheart's nose flared in anger, Bella already knowing what was being asked of her. "To become a Dark Justiciar, one must spill her mortal enemy's blood - the blood of a Selûnite." 

Karlach and Astarion both turned to her, both of them glancing back and forth.  Shadowheart just looked up at her, eyes flaring in anger but she saw the hesitation within them. And the sorrow. Bella stood herself straighter, taking the words in. 

How else could a Sharran ritual end but with a death of a Selûnite.

Her blood.

Her death.

"Bella..." Shadowheart chased her back up towards the elevator back to the mausoleum, Karlach and Astarion lagging behind them. 

Belladonna paced just outside the chamber, letting out a slow, furious laugh. She stopped to look down at her, Shadowheart stopping a few steps down. "Did you know of this?"

"No! Why would I?" Shadowheart defended. "Even if I did, it would have been locked away, out of secrecy."

"Right, Shar and her secrets..." Bella said bitterly, "Shar and her fucking secrets!"

"Bella..." Shadowheart said, not knowing what else to really say.

The other tasks aside, a blood sacrifice must still be made at the end for her to ascend. The only sacrifice that could be made was... Shadowheart shook her head, thinking of all the other possible answers to this.

Jaheira would never let her touch Isobel. Bella would be have to chose between her and one of the high priestess of her church. Even if she did love her, Shadowheart knew that it wouldn't even be about love if it came down to it. Bella was, is still a solider - a Moon Knight. Her power came from her oath.

And that oath meant no mercy for her sworn enemies.

No mercy for her.

Yet Belladonna had tried to stay her weapon, justifying that there was a greater evil beyond their goddesses squabbles. That, this time, she was justified in showing her mercy since they were both on the same side.

If she went against her now, Bella would outright smite her if she tried to even go near the other cleric. Shadowheart thought of anyone else, not remembering any possible Harpers that could...No...why was she even entertaining the thought?

This was her dream, she reminded herself. It was now within reach. All she would have to do was complete the trials, claim the spear, cleanse the temple of who ever was left in there, and...

And make the sacrifice.

She looked up to see Bella just watching her carefully, as if trying to figure out her own moves on the lance board they were sat on. "We...we can talk more about it later."

"I'm sure we will."

She sat away from group, Karlach explaining to Gale, Wyll and Lae'zel what had transpired thus far. Shadowheart had stalked away to "scout" out the next areas, Astarion following just to keep an eye on her.

The Gauntlet of Shar.

No doubt built by the Thorms during their fall over a century ago. Karlach had told her before that she had seen another entrance in the far distance when they were at the Grymforge, another Sharran structure but she wasn't paying attention.

She wish she did. 

How many of Selûne's followers died in these halls like the graves above, Bella wondered. How many were dragged here in chains, tortured to appease the endless hunger of the Dark Lady and denied a proper burial under the moonlight. How many more was slaughtered for the Nightfall or worst yet, during the Kiss of the Lady. Belladonna rubbed the tiredness settling in her eyes, noticing Lae'zel walk towards her.

"The half-elf's goddess expects her to sacrifice you," she said, arms crossed.

Belladonna sighed. "She does."

"Will you fight her or will you submit?"

"Why are you asking Lae'zel?" Belladonna asked, the gith sneering at her.

"I've followed you for your strength, both physical and mental. If you had been one of my kin, you would have been worthy of the title kith'rak - a captain. You have proven yourself in battle and that your word can be trusted." Lae'zel admitted, eyes hardened but her voice was softer. "I've warned you before that I will not question your intentions with her but that she is your weakness."

"And be the harbinger of my downfall." Bella remembered the parting words after the creche. "I remember."

"What will you do?"

"I don't know yet."

"You better know soon, Belladonna," Lae'zel said, nodding behind her. Bella looked behind her, Astarion holding up an injured Shadowheart as she held a dark purple orb under her arm, another one clear in her pack. "As she's started to chose for you."

Astarion had to follow her, the rogue staying silent the entire time as they scouted the halls of the gauntlet. She pulled the map from her pack, Astarion looking at it and her but said nothing. They found the first trial room, Astarion letting her do the trial without an argument, waiting as patiently as he could by the altar.

She was surprised when he didn't judge her two failures, just quietly passing her one of the invisibility potions she knew he had kept hidden from the rest of the group. He greeted her with an eye roll once she came back with the first orb, following her to the second room with a small sigh.

"Hurry up. They're bound to start looking for us soon." 

"Why aren't you stopping me?" Shadowheart stopped, turning around to look at him.

"Would you have listened to me if I tried to stop you?" Astarion asked. "Would you have listened to any of us?" Her silence was her answer. "Exactly."

"You're upset about this. I didn't think you cared."

"You've saved us enough times that I owe you a small debt if we were keeping count," Astarion huffed, pouting at having to acknowledge his feelings. "Of course I care, Shadowheart. I care about you, your boring arse girlfriend upstairs and the rest of our merry band of misfits. You are all the source of so much of my headaches and drinking but I would rather be out here, being fools with the lot of you than back at my master's beck and call."

"That's why you're helping me?"

"I never said I would help, darling." Astarion nodded to the altar. "This is all you."

"But you're not going to stop me from continuing this?"

"No."

"Why?"

"It's not my job to do so." He said, leaning against the wall, "That's up to you. And her," he pointed back towards where the rest of the group was resting. "Go."

The Self-Same trial was an ordeal, the shadow version of herself proving to know all her skill set, but it having access to her divine powers...

Shadowheart emerged from the room bloody, clutching the orb under her arm with a cough, Astarion rolling his eyes as he lifted her up on her injured side, beginning the slow walk back to the group.

Two orbs. Two trials.

Just one more to go.

*Find my spear. Cleanse my temple.* Shar whispered into ears, filling her with renewed hope that everything she had done was right.

The look on the others faces made her falter in her conviction. She could see Bella's jaw tense up, Lae'zel and Wyll judging her for what she had done. Gale looked at her with pity while Karlach only looked over at Bella. 

"I'm not even going to ask," they said, Bella tossing her the healing kit they had. Astarion sat her down near where Bella was, the paladin immediately getting up to walk away from them. 

The unspoken rejection stung. She wanted to call out to her, make her listen but she knew what she had done was a slap in the face. She started the trials without the rest of the group knowing. She had forced their hand to follow no matter what.

Karlach shook their head, Shadowheart wincing as the tiefling bandaged up her arm, cutting the wrap with the dagger from healing kit. "You're really going through with this, huh?"

"I don't expect you to understand," Shadowheart said, looking at the two orbs she managed to get. 

Karlach sighed beside her, "What wouldn't I understand, Shadowheart? What it's like to want to be accepted? To want to feel loved? To feel like the world is against you? Because I know all of that. All of it."

"Two nights ago, you said you we're doubting your goddess. That you were doubting her bullshit. One nightmare later and you're being punished for being a good person and rendered powerless. She dangles the promise your dream and you're back to thinking her shit smells like roses." Karlach shook her head again. "Take it from someone who saw way too late; this thing you have with your goddess - It's fucking abuse, mate."

"I just hope you know what you're doing." Karlach told her, placing one of the bigger health potions on the table beside her to drink. "And I hope you know what you're doing to Bella."

Belladonna stopped at the fork in the path, looking down the short hall below them. Small specks of blood led down, past the steps, eyes trailing up to where they were. Her eyes fell to Shadowheart, still on the steps, not meeting her gaze.

She turned the other way, going up a flight of stairs to what looked to be a small prayer room, skeletons once again speaking to them, all of them having to fight another wave of Dark Justiciars and a Justiciar Crusader, while the puppet master hid inside his chambers.

The door opened to reveal a hooded man, face scarred fresh with markings. The Myrkulite looked at them all, assessing them all before his eyes settled on Shadowheart near the front of the group. "Ah, the interloper - and in one piece as well. Not an entirely unpromising specimen, for one naturally-born. Not just any True Soul would have succeeded in following my path through this place, although it seems you are exactly what I need for this task."

"Balthazar, I presume? Z'rell sent us. She thinks you're in danger of failing your master." Shadowheart said, Balthazar raising his hand at the assumption. 

"General Thorm? Rubbish. Everything is at hand here - Z'rell merely envies the General's faith in me. I am in the midst of a grand strategy after all. But you are here, and you know what's at stake I take it?" Shadowheart shook her head, Balthazar giving her a sickening smile. "We are here for the Nightsong. She is my finest creation - she lends the General his strength, his invulnerability. We must recover Aylin before his enemies attempt to exploit it."

"Aylin?" Bella heard herself repeat the name.

"What do you need me to do?" She heard Shadowheart ask, Bella still focusing on the name uttered.

Aylin.

Isobel's paladin, Aylin.

Why was she here? Why was she...

"How'd you meet?" she remembered asking

"Shieldmeet," Isobel said with a smile. "She swept me off my feet our first meeting. She was glorious in battle, even better in..."

Bella shook her head, trying to remember why Shieldmeets were important, mind going to the memory of her first official Shieldmeet.

"Why are the Shieldmeet so important, mother?" Bella asked, Iliranne fixing the cloak of House Alenthiel on her shoulder.

"We work with the other clergy to celebrate our Lady in Silver." Iliranne explained, Bella biting her lip as the cloak was fastened too tightly on her. "We, as one of her high houses must help summon one of her chosen envoys, be it a Shard, or more often than not, a planetar. They will help us rid the dark forces of Shar and come morning, would elevate one of us to their ranks."

"Has a shard ever been summoned?" she asked, loosening the cloak slightly when her mother turned around to grab her sword.

"Once before. She was a shining paladin bathed in silver and blue. That was a decade and half before you were born."

"What happened to her?" Iliranne tensed, Bella watching as emotions flashed in her mother's eyes.

"We don't know."

"Aylin's a Shard," Bella said, everyone turning towards her. "You imprisoned one on Selûne's Shards."

"Not just any Shard; One of Selûne's daughters herself." Balthazar clarified, now watching her carefully. Bella felt her anger rising. 

"Selûne's daughter?" Wyll echoed, Bella hearing enough.

This is why she was brought here.

This is why Selûne brought her back.

"Selûne chose to wait and we cannot undo the tragedies of the past, but she must have had a reason for it. 100 years later, her pieces are beginning to move: You, Me and even Shadowheart to a certain degree." Isobel's voice echoed in her mind.

"We better play along for now," Shadowheart said, trying to calm her down. "Bella..."

"No. No part of you will remain here, necromancer. Not when I'm finished with you." Belladonna said, pulling her sword out. "Upon my oath, you will pay for your desecration of the tombs above. You will pay for all you've done."

"Then you are an idiot, little paladin! I will salvage what parts I can from you and make all of you serve!" Balthazar cried out, the ghouls screeching around them. Her companions moved, Shadowheart moving to guard her left flank as she kept her eyes on the necromancer before them.

"Our Lady in Silver, guide my hand in your judgment and let it be swift when passing your justice." Bella recited, eyes flaring bright white, oath replaying in her mind as she struck the ghoul near her with divine powers. 

"No mercy."

Belladonna watched as the fire claimed Balthazar's dead body, fire crackling as the ghouls joined it. She faintly heard Lae'zel call out to her, barely heard Wyll ask if she was okay. She barely registered Karlach ask Gale to clarify what the fuck was going on.

Selûne's daughter.

Ketheric imprisoned Selûne's own daughter for his own gain. For his own greed. His own power. 

Aylin. 

Isobel's lover was Selûne's own daughter. Her paladin was Selûne's daughter.

Ketheric kept her away for Isobel. Aylin was imprisoned by Ketheric for Shar under the guise of keeping Isobel safe.

Death of a Selûnite... echoed in her mind, Bella looking around the bonfire to where her friends were, eyes falling to Shadowheart.

"To become a Dark Justiciar, one must spill her mortal enemy's blood - the blood of a Selûnite."

It wasn't her death that Shadowheart needed to ascend.

It was Aylin's.

Shadowheart paced by her tent, the group finding a secluded spot near Balthazar's offices to set up camp for the night. 

She looked across the way to the small altar to Shar surrounded by rats and wondered if she should offer another prayer.

Something... anything to help clear up the confusion in her head. The confusion in her heart. She looked around her and found no one else there. Gale had set up his tent near hers but had gone off to look through Balthazar's books with Bella. She knew that Astarion, Wyll, Karlach and Lae'zel had set out to scout the other area to find the devil Raphael wanted killed, leaving her alone.

Alone with her thoughts.

Alone with her doubts.

She moved towards the altar, pausing at the pedestal in the middle of the area to take it all in. She was here, in the middle of the gauntlet. They've cleansed one parasite from the gauntlet, her friends possibly taking care of the other. If not, they had tomorrow to do it.

She looked out to where they had fought the Justiciars, the crusader laying where Karlach had killed it. So many empty shells but still serving the Dark Lady after their death.

That was what she wanted right?

As long as she could remember this was what she had been working for. This is what she wanted.

Bella emerged from Balthazar's chambers and looked at her, face still covered in blood. She gave her a smile, Bella just looking away as she walked towards the stairs back to where the entrance was. 

"Bella! Wait!" Shadowheart called out, Belladonna not stopping. "Talk to me, please."

"What's there to talk about?" Bella asked her, Shadowheart not coming up with a response. "You've already started the trials, anything I say about them will just fall onto deaf ears."

"You don't understand."

"I think I do," Belladonna continued down the steps. "Do what you must. The others can help you if they so choose but I will not help you with any of it."

"You're not going to stopping me?" Shadowheart asked. "You're just giving up on me, on us, just like that?"

Belladonna stopped at the bottom of the steps, looking up at her with hardened eyes. "You lied about scouting out the place to start the trials," she walked up towards her. "You broke our trust. You've made it clear that you don't want our help in any of them except to cleanse this place for your vile goddess." Bella stopped just below her. "You have made your choice. And so have I."

"I won't stop you from doing what you need to do. What's she's asking you to do." Bella told her in a low voice. "But if you kill my goddess' daughter, I promise you, I will stop you from ever leaving this place or I will die trying."

A shiver ran down her spine, Bella turning away to go back towards the entrance, no doubt to try and find the rest of the group. 

"Get some rest. You'll need it."

Belladonna let the breath she was holding out, tears falling as she found herself alone, sobbing at what she had just done. What she just said.

Shadowheart had made her move and she was just responding in turn.

They were both in too deep.

Two more moves and one of them would fall.

Tomorrow, this would all end.

One way or another, it was about to end.

Just how, she didn't know yet.

Chapter Text

Belladonna sat on the steps outside of the final trial room, Shadowheart insisting on doing the task on her own. Lae'zel scoffed, walking away to look at the room down the hall with Karlach while Wyll joined her at sitting. 

'We'll go make sure she gets out," Gale said, tugging Astarion by the sleeve to follow Shadowheart. 

"Why are you letting her continue, knowing what is to happen?" Wyll asked her, "Why let her continue this madness?"

"I need her," Belladonna replied. "If what we found in Balthazar's room is correct, we need her to finish these trials for the orbs. With all four orbs, the portal to the Shadowfell would be opened, allowing us a chance to free Aylin."

"You are using her for your own again," Wyll stated. "As she has used you."

Belladonna nodded, looking over to where Lae'zel and Karlach were poking around. "Have you spoken?"

"Briefly."

"And?"

Bella sighed. "There is no "and" anymore, Wyll."

"Why not?"

"There's nothing more to talk about." Bella said. "She has made her choice."

"Has she now?" Wylll asked, "Are you certain?"

"She has chosen her path."

"But has she chosen when it comes to you?" Wyll asked her. Belladonna turned towards him. "You have a window, Belladonna. You maybe the only one that can pull her from the dark."

Shadowheart emerged from the room with the next orb at hand, smirk on her face as she came towards them. 

"I don't think I can anymore."

"Doesn't hurt to try," Wyll pressured. "Especially if you love for her."

She shoved the undead body of the justiciar away from the bookshelf, checking it over for anything important.

Nothing.

Why was this proving to be the hardest one? Shadowheart thought to herself. "*What can silence the Nightsong?*" the riddle on the pedestal asked of her. Gale and Astarion only shrugged, making their way out of the gated are to leave her on her own.

The spear was close.

She was close.

She was here, spear nearly at hand then just the final orb.

To be a Dark Justiciar was...is her dream.

Right?

This has been her goal since she was a child. All her training was for this.

This moment.

Why was she hesitating? Shadowheart asked herself.

She around her and just watched her friends for a moment. Gale was buried nose deep in a tome, Astarion flipping through a different one. Wyll and Karlach looked over the fallen justiciars while Lae'zel and Bella...

Her eyes fell to her lover, Bella just sitting by the entrance just watching at her. Waiting for her next move.

Waiting for their end.

Her mind went to the previous night's fight, remembering Bella's clear declaration against what she has been doing.

What she will do.

Shadowheart's eyes fell on the page open in front of her, Shar's teachings clear about love.

*Love is the cruellest of all the lies...It is a disease - one that can ensnare hearts for a lifetime...

*It's destructive, fleeting in its comfort. It will burn in its heat, choke you in its acrid smoke.

*And in the end, leave you with nothing.

*Nothing but cold ashes and a hungry heart.

Did she still believe this? 

A part of her said yes; the trained acolyte sent on the mission. The same acolyte that was beaten every time her mind wandered away from the teachings. The lost little girl forced to endure hours of training with a smile and make sacrifices she didn't want to.

That girl never knew love. She thought she did. But who she was now...

This version of her... This one had the memories of love's cruelty but also its comforts. How mornings with a smile was more frequent than those in pain. How her heart was ripped at the forge, making her beg to whatever god would listen to just have her back.

How the butterflies in her stomach would start when she would hear Bella's voice or when she would hear the elven chant whispered into her hair when Bella thought she was asleep, declaring every night that she was hers. It made her yearn. It made her uneasy how easy it was to fall for someone, care for someone.

But she wanted it.

Her heart felt full from it.

The wound flared, blasphemy being punished, especially in Shar's presence, her halls. Shadowheart looked up, still clutching her hand and she could see her friends just looking at her with pity as it subsided.

"Hey, is this it?" Wyll asked, holding a book up, Shadowheart moving quickly to him.

Teachings of Loss: The Nightsinger.

She opened the book, looking on first page.

What can silence the Nightsong? Only the Nightsinger herself - Shar. Mistress of the Night. Lady of Loss. Her names are many, but her purpose is simplicity itself: light was a mistake, and life is an illusion - a discordant song composed of lies, breaking the peace of oblivion.

Was this the answer? she wondered. Was this the key for her to claim her dream and title.

For her to lose the woman she loved.

She stared at the book, thanking Wyll as she made her way down the steps, down towards the pedestal, each step echoing in the mostly empty room. Her heavy footfalls reverberated around her as she stopped in front of it, placing the book down to hear something click into place. The hidden door moved, Shadowheart feeling her heart fill with...

Nothing.

It was empty.

An embrace of nothingness. 

Just as Shar wanted. 

The Spear of the Night lay at the altar before her, waiting to be claimed along with her new armour. The spear she needed to make the final sacrifice needed. She looked back behind her, eyes meeting Belladonna's as she watched from where she was. 

*Come child.

*Claim your reward.

*Ascend and fulfill your dream

*Become my chosen.

*Become my Dark Justiciar.

Her feet moved on their own towards the weapon, stopping her just in front of it. She looked up at the slates of Shar's teachings. She could feel her eyes on her as she looked at the spear and armour laid out before her. She looked behind her again, Bella now standing half way down the steps.

Shadowheart breathed in deeply, turning to grab the spear, feeling its weight on her hands.

She unhooked her old spear from her back to place her reward there instead, turning around to find Belladonna and Lae'zel gone.

This was the end.

This was their end. 

*Nothingness is all you need.

*Go.

*Find the final orb.

*Ascend

They followed the signs to the lair of the devil, all of them sneaking up a set of stairs, the devil, an orthon, picking up on them immediately.

"Form up! Let none of these rats escape! Think you can outflank me?!" he yelled out, tossing some bombs towards them.

"Send them back!" Karlach yelled out, grabbing the closest one to her and lobbing it back to the orthon, growling out her rage as she ran past Bella.

Belladonna followed Karlach's lead, tossing the lobbed bombs back at the orthon, downing one of the potions of speed as she leapt towards one of the merregons, slashing into it. She felt the potions effects kick in, slashing at it again as it backed away before planting her sword through its gut.

She watched as Shadowheart muttered the incantation on the scrolls, ice crushing down on top of the Merregons above her, Bella dodging out of an icicle that had come crushing down. Shadowheart moved, Bella hearing the displacer beast growl as another appeared beside Shadowheart.

Bella faintly heard Astarion call something out, feeling one of his ice arrows fly past her her head as it embedded itself onto a merregon on the ledge, Astarion disappearing into the shadows. 

The other merregons cried out, snuffing out the light, Bella growling as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She heard the Orthon laugh, more bombs being lobbed at them, disappearing from sight. 

"Fuck where is he?" Karlach asked, leaping towards another merregon, splitting it down in two as she slammed her axe back down again. Bella touched Karlach's shoulder, axe glowing in radiant light as they went back to back with one another, Belladonna tossing both bombs at the merregons further away from them, slowing them down.

Belladonna saw it too late, the Orthon appearing in front of Shadowheart, sword coming down to slice into Shadowheart, making her scream in pain. "You! The last one! I will finally be free! Free from Raphael's song! Free from this place!"

"Get away from her!" Belladonna yelled, disappearing from behind Karlach to behind the Orthon, striking him with two divine slashes.

"The Last Dark Justiciar! My final query! My freedom is at hand!" He cried out, grabbing Shadowheart by the throat, lifting her up. "Years, I've been here. Looking for you. Waiting for you. I CAN FINALLY BE FREE." Shadowheart struggled against its grasp, Astarion's arrows doing nothing against him. 

*Do you love her? she heard a voice ask. The same voice that greeted them in when they entered.

Belladonna shook the voice out of her head, getting a laugh from the goddess. 

*What are you willing to lose for her, little paladin? Are you willing to lose yourself for her? 

*Or have you already given up on her?

*She speaks highly of you, and my sister seems eager to keep you two together.

*What if I take her from you, right here, right now?

Time slowed as Belladonna felt herself move, the orthon's blade piercing through Shadowheart's abdomen with a cry. 

He tossed her body away, Belladonna leaping to catch Shadowheart's limp body, pumping all of her own divine healing into her, feeling the poison stabilize and the wound heal but Shadowheart was still out cold.

Shar's laughter pierced her mind, the displacer beast now stalking down towards her. Belladonna panted, looking around them. Karlach was too busy with the Orthon, Astarion helping with the final merregons. She could hear the others running towards them, Bella growling as the displacer beast roared at her.

"You're in my temple, little Selûnite. She's mine," she heard coming from the displacer beast. 

Belladonna breathed deep, standing up, ready to strike the displacer beast. "She isn't yours."

She felt a dark tendril touch her shoulder, a voice whispering in her ears.

*Loss teaches the truth, little Selûnite.

*And you've already lost.

*Not just her - But yourself as well.

Bella sat at the edge of the cliff, fiddling with her bracelet. *Death of a Selûnite* echoed in her mind. 

She looked up at the giant statue of Shar, mocking every belief she had ever held. Bella wondered if this was truly Selûne's plan all along. Was this the reason Selûne brought her back? Was this the task she was meant to fulfill all along? To be the blood sacrifice for her daughter's freedom. 

Would Selûne be that cruel? No, Bella shook her head. She knew better of her goddess. Selûne wasn't one to make false promises. Selûne wasn't for trickery and deceit. She was about accepting change, good or bad. But this was Nightsong - her own blood, her daughter. 

She bowed her head, staring out into the darkness of the crevasse as she weighed the options that could come from this.

Does she trust Shadowheart to do what is right, hope that their time together had made her see enough to break free from Shar's manipulations?

Does she say something, in hopes she could be talked down from killing her goddess' daughter?

Does she offer herself as the sacrifice for Shadowheart's ascension, leaving her friends to deal with the fallout of her sacrifice?

Or does she let her free Aylin from a century of pain and suffering by asking Shadowheart be merciful to her? Does she let Shadowheart make the sacrifice and follow her down this dark path?

Was she willing to lose her own soul, to save Shadowhearts?

Withers had asked her upon meeting him what was the price of a mortal's soul. Back then, she told him that they were all equal. 

But now...

Belladonna looked behind her at the camp they had made in this temple. Everyone of her companions could feel the tension in the air. She could see them avert their eyes when she looked over. They all pitied her. 

Pitied them. 

She moved to the room where Shadowheart lay, still asleep after the Orthon battle. Blood was seeping through the bandages again, Bella sighing as she went about carefully cleaning it of whatever poison that still lingered before replacing the bandage once again.

Could Shadowheart still be saved? she wondered.

She didn't feel that she could anymore, not after the last trial. Shadowheart was too far gone and Shar's grasp was firm around her. Each trial she completed, more and more of her light faded. She had promised her that she would not interfere, that Shadowheart was free to complete the trials to fulfill her dream.

A dream that would end with both their deaths, one way or another.

Bella looked over to the book she had open by the table, frowning at its false teachings before closing it. 

That's all they were. False teachings of a selfish, cruel god.

She looked over at Shadowheart again, kissing her hand before sitting down on the chair close by to watch over the woman she loved and wait for the unavoidable.

Shadowheart woke on a bedroll, pain still lingering in her stomach and her chest. She tried to remember what happened, hearing the ringing in her ears again from the bombs the devil had set off as the sword pierced her. She remembered Bella's scream, then nothing.

She looked around her and saw they were back in the same room they had previously made camp in, armour stripped off her and changed out to her pants and a torn shirt, revealing the bandage on her torso. The healer's kit they had lay empty on the table beside her, bloody rags and gauze still nearby as was the salves Isobel and Jaheira had prepared to counteract poisons were used up around her.

How long was she out? Shadowheart asked  herself, sitting up painfully groaning as she did, finally realizing she wasn't alone.

Belladonna sat in one of the chairs nearby, eyes closed in her trance, breathing softly. She moved quietly over to her, studying the paladin's face closely, taking in the various scars the woman had, including some of the new ones she had received in this adventure.

There was the smaller nick on her chin, the slash from the spider claw the had received when Astarion fell down the well. The smaller one on her neck from playfighting with the owl bear cub, it getting too rough and accidentally nibbling her. She looked at Bella's hand, seeing where Scratch had bit her, again accidentally, for taking his ball away in the middle of the night.

This...this was the love she missed growing up in the cloister. Love she has since found.

Was she willing to sacrifice it all? For Shar? Shadowheart looked at Bella's face again, savouring her psuedo-sleeping form, one strand of hair was out of place. Shadowheart smiled as she tucked it back behind her ear, heart fluttering as she looked at Belladonna at peace.

She loved Bella.

But she wasn't meant for love. The wound flared, Shar reminding her where she was and of the teachings she had just read hours prior. She flinched, pulling her hand back only to be caught by Bella's hand.

"I was..." She started to say when Bella pulled her hand to her lips, kissing the wound with chapped lips before letting her go. Loving eyes looked up at her as she moved away, Bella not moving as she clutched her hand, forcing her to stare at her eyes.

Even now, she still loved her.

"Why? You could have left me...forsaken me..."

"I've told you before, I keep my promises, even if that means saving you." Belladonna said, replaying one of their earlier conversations. "And I can't help but still love you, even after all of this."

"She..." the wound flared even more, making her cry out in pain. "Stop please...please..." Belladonna moved to hold her close, the pain getting more intense. "Please..."

"I can't..." her tears soaking the paladin's shirt. "She..."

"I know..."

"I know."

Belladonna watched as Lae'zel, Astarion and Wyll faded away from them, the disc moving to another part of the temple. They had their orders now, Lae'zel giving her a firm nod of acknowledgement before leaving.

Shadowheart stood beside her quietly, hands playing with the prayer beads she had on her. "Do you trust me?" Shadowheart asked, Belladonna closing her eyes to reflect. The closer they get to the inner sanctum, the less sure she was of everything.

She loved Shadowheart. Her heart knew she was it from the moment she found her on the beach. Their uneasy alliance bloomed to mutual respect to this. The love they both share now at the brink of breaking all because of the gods they chose...was forced to follow. 

Bella looked at her as the disc came to a stop. Does she trust Shadowheart with what's to come? Karlach and Gale not said nothing as they made their way to the altar. "I want to."

Shadowheart just looked up at her and nodded, stepping off the disc to follow. Bella watched as Shadowheart carefully placed the other orbs in their respective places, the door to the inner sanctum opening with a hiss. The air was thick, the dark chamber welcoming them all as they stepped inside. She stopped Gale mid step, watching as Karlach and Shadowheart continued down the steps before them. 

"No." Gale told her. "Whatever you're planning. No."

"This isn't your fight. This is between her goddess and mine," Bella said in Dwarvish, handing him one of the scrolls they had for banishment, holding on to his arm. "Use the scroll on Karlach. We both know she will try to stop the both of us. Promise me that if I die down there, you will get Karlach and yourself out. Promise me that you will not use that bomb in your chest and find another way to rid yourselves of the parasites." She looked him right in his eyes. "Promise me, Gale."

"Bella..." She continued to hold his arm, Gale finally giving in with a sigh. "I promise."

"Almost there. I will not fail you, my lady," they heard Shadowheart say as Shar's voice echoed in the chamber.

*The end draws near. You show great potential - do not falter now.*

*Descend to the Nightsong. Make the sacrifice*

*Rise again as a Dark Justiciar.*

Belladonna watched as the candles lit up as they approached, serene pool of water greeting them, steps leading down into it.

"I have to pray," Shadowheart said, not even looking back at them as she got down onto her knees. Bella just stared at the statue across the pool, Shar watching over them, watching her.

"Shadowheart?" Karlach asked, Shadowheart standing up and ready. "That was quick," they noted. 

"Trust me, you wouldn't want to displease her. Not here. Let's continue." Shadowheart said, looking at her. Bella giving her a nod. Bella looked up again at the statue, unclasping her bracelet from her arm to wrap it around her sword. This was it, she thought. Bella looked over to Karlach and to Gale, nodding at the both of them as they all stepped into the pool.

Into the entrance of the Shadowfell.

Belladonna step in, water hissing around Karlach as they all entered. She watched as Shadowheart take a hesitant step in, Bella moving back to stand close by, floating near her as she stepped further into the water.

They all felt a sudden tug, all of them getting pulled in, panic setting into Shadowheart's eyes as she struggled in the water, taking a deep breath as darkness over took all of them.

Bella coughed, still feeling as if water was in her lungs. She took in her surroundings, Karlach shaking herself and the rest soon waking as well. The sound of wind rushing filled her ears as she woke to a floating island, dark, spiked chains linking some to another. What little light there was only came from various lit shards of blue glass.

She looked around them, Shadowheart closing her eyes to take a deep breath in. "Lady Shar...her divine domain: The Shadowfell." Bella could feel her divine powers wane, the darkness surrounding them suffocating all of Selûne's light. Her unease grew as she could feel Shar's dark tendrils caress her, whispering her welcome to them all.

"Does anyone feel like...they're lighter?" Gale asked. Karlach jumped, floating briefly before landing again. "Definitely lighter."

'Let's not dally," Shadowheart said, securing her shield on her back. "Follow." They all watched as Shadowheart jumped to the next island, waiting for them. They all followed wordlessly, Belladonna noting the broken statues around them. It was as if Shar had pulled parts of the temple they came from to this place, making sure anyone who was there knew where and who was near. Husks of Dark Justiciars materialized as they continued towards the largest island, all echoing the same words, as if it was a mantra.

Descend to her.

Look upon her. 

Listen to her. 

Kill her.

Belladonna paused in front of the Dark Justiciar who said it, empty helmet staring back at her. She looked over at Shadowheart and felt her heart sink further. 

Did she trust Shadowheart?

"See my actions, Lady Shar. Hear my words of faith." Bella heard Shadowheart say to herself. She was starting to doubt her more and more they went. "Lady Shar's Will shall be done. As sure as they will fall."

One final jump.

To the end.

Chapter Text

The Dark Justiciars bowed to her, encouraged her to continue, pointing to her where she must go, Shadowheart feeling her heart swell as they approached.

This was it.

This was where she would rise to be her Lady's chosen. Her Dark Justiciar at long last. The Mother Superior groomed her for this day but had prevented her from ever seeking this out, forcing her to stay back in the cloister. Keeping her on a leash.

But she was here now.

One final jump. 

She looked back at her friends, Gale wearing a passive look, hand twitching while Karlach just took everything in. She could see the trust in Karlach's eyes still there but there was also a sense of pity. She looked up at Bella and faltered. There was no judgement in her eyes, just a deep sadness in them.

They could see the figure now, the woman pacing like a caged lion. They all jumped down to the platform, Bella taking her side as they approached. "I have felt you coming. The first in a century." Aylin gave looked over all of them, eyes falling on her. "You, who have come to seek the praise of your wicked goddess! You, who have come to drive a dagger through my heart!" Shadowheart felt herself bristle, the woman in front of her being held back by spectral hands and chains. 

"Not a dagger - a spear! My Lady Shar's Spear. Her fate is mine to seal. Let me handle this." She said, Bella's eyes closing to shake her head no.

"The fate you seal is your own. To be a Dark Justiciar is to turn your heart from everything. Even love. There is only servitude and loss. Endless loss. She will use you until she has no more use for you. She will discard you without care and you will be left with nothing and no one."

Aylin's eyes move to Bella, Bella staring right back. There seemed to be an understanding in that look, a painful realization between them. 

Oath Bound. Honour Bound. Blood Bound.

Shadowheart realized what those words all those weeks ago meant. 

"Is this...Is this truly what you want?" Bella asked, Karlach shifting uneasily behind them. "Truly what your heart desires?"

The wind around them intensifies, a chorus of Dark Justiciars chanting around her to listen, to kill her. Listen. Listen.

*Listen.

To whom? Shadowheart looked at those around her. They were all waiting for her answer, for her to decide if this was what she wanted. Does she listen to her heart, or does she listen to the order given.

*Listen.

*Kill her.

"Yes...I think so. My whole life, everything I've done, has been leading to this," she reasoned looking at her friends. Gale remained passive and calculating while Karlach looking between them, torn. "There's not turning back now."

"Don't do this...Please." Bella asked. 

Aylin growled at the exchange, spectral hands coming to hold her back again. "Do you even know who you are, little assassin? Emboldened by your goddess, yes, empowered to kill a child of a god! But you know nothing about yourself! For I know you - a lost child, frightened by wolves. Poisoned by your goddess' false promises and lies."

Shadowheart hesitated, looking over at Aylin, "What did you just say?"

Aylin shook her head at her, "Much has been promised to you, but more has been taken from you. What do you have been fed and what truly is in your heart...do you not want to own your own life?"

"Whatever you think you know of me won't matter, once I become whom I meant to be!" Shadowheart yelled back. 

"Kill her,"" the chorus of Justiciars cried.

The spear appeared in her hand unwillingly, Shadowheart gripping it tightly, lifting it up, eyes meeting Bella's. 

"Don't make me chose...please..." Bella looked at her, eyes pleading.

"You have to eventually, Bella," Shadowheart said. "We both do." Belladonna sighed. eyes looking over to Aylin before looking at her. "If I have to step over your corpse to fulfil what Shar asks me to do, I will. This is my calling. My destiny."

"Your destiny isn't to be alone!" Bella yelled out. "You're better than this. Better than what she's asking you to be. Darkness and loss isn't what you deserve!" 

Belladonna closed her eyes, letting out a pained breath out. "If this is truly your destiny," she said, eyes locking on to hers with resolve and regret. "Then spill my blood instead of hers." Shadowheart stepped back, shaking her head. "The blood of a Selûnite. Your own words. Shar's words," Bella recalled, unhooking her sword from her belt to throw it onto her feet. "She's suffered enough. Spill my blood in her stead." 

"No..."

"You have to make your choice eventually," Belladonna raised the tip of the spear to her throat. "I love you. If I am to lose you forever to her, I would rather die here and now. Let my death be the first step to your ascension." 

*Kill her.

*Close your heart.

*Strike! Strike and rise!

She closed her eyes, restored memories replaying in her mind. The drowning of the young boy. Her slitting the throat of a woman during a Nightfall feast, licking the blood off the dagger. Her seducing a young woman during an Upper City Ball to get access to her family for the sake of the cloister, leading her torture.

Painful memories of what she had done in the past, of what she was to return to gave way to the ones she created these past weeks, happier memories of the last few weeks. 

Her laughing with Karlach as they both played with the Tiefling children; the smirk between her and Wyll as they both realized they owned the same book; the playful teasing between her and Astarion when they were sent to scout ahead of everyone.

She had these memories because of the tadpole yes but she made them. With her friends and her own choices.

Her choice to care for them, to love them for who they were and they loved her back in return.

Especially Bella.

Sworn enemy to her Lady. A Moon Knight who should have killed her on sight when she was still in the pod.

Bella loved her. She loved her back.

*Love is the cruellest of all the lies...It is a disease - one that can ensnare hearts for a lifetime...

Love.

Shadowheart opened her eyes, green meeting Bella's mismatched eyes.

Love.

She gripped the spear with both hands, tossing it over the edge, breathing deeply as she watched it fall. 

The chorus of Justiciars faded. The wind suddenly died down around them.

Bella felt her heart stop, just staring at Shadowheart. "I...I cant believe I just did that. Lady Shar will disown me...what will happen to me?'' she asked, panic creeping into her voice.

"Not what will happen - What will you do. Your past isn't lost. Your future is not fixed." Aylin said, kneeling down to look up at Shadowheart. "Lay a hand on me in friendship, not-quiet-Sharran, and I will fight the battle that has been waiting for me for this last century. Then - oh then, we will have much to discuss."

Shadowheart stepped closer, hand passing through the magical barrier of the soul cage to touch Aylin on her shoulder, releasing the spell that had trapped her. Bella watched as Aylin sank to both knees, pounding her fist onto the ground, crying out for her divine mother, her own goddess to witness what just happened. Bella felt her own divine magic surge, letting her release the breath she was holding.

"The Nightsong is no more!" Aylin cried out, lifting slightly as moonlight radiated from her, piercing through the Shadowfell's dark clouds, Bella and the rest turning their eyes away slightly as the light surrounded Aylin. Armour plate covered her from head to toe, Bella watching as one of the fabled Moonblades appeared from the heavens, resting in Aylin's hands. The aasimar's wings spread out as she looked down at them with glowing white eyes, small smile on here face.

Bella knelt out of respect as Aylin's feet touched the ground. "I am resplendent. You have given me a great gift, little warrior," Aylin said, eyes landing on Belladonna. "Rise, faithful paladin, your faith and love have done what I feared was impossible - you have released me from a century of sorrow."

"We apologize for not being able to save you sooner," Belladonna said in celestial, meeting Aylin's eyes. 

Aylin bid her to rise, Bella standing beside a still shaken Shadowheart. "Apologies are not warranted, young one. Many have tried to breach Ketheric's domain, only you, and your companions managed to do it in a century. You have my eternal thanks," she turned back to Shadowheart. "Little Warrior, your power is great. So too must be your weapon," she held her hand up once more, a glowing glaive appearing in it. She presented it to Shadowheart, warm smile across her face. 

"You have my eternal thanks, and my blade is yours. Name the foe and I shall fight along side you." Karlach and Gale joined them as Shadowheart held the weapon. 

"Be our spearhead," Bella asked. "Ketheric now leads an army under a new deity - this Absolute." Aylin growled. "We can regroup at our camp before our assault." 

"I will scout ahead see this curse he set about the land for myself, I will join you at once I am ready." Aylin said, eyes hardened as she waved her hand, opening a portal for them. "Are you all ready?"

"Ready for what?" Karlach asked.

"To kill Ketheric Throm. " She said before letting her wings unfurl again, taking off without a second glance back at them.

"We need to leave, now." Shadowheart said, panic setting in. "Lady Shar will not stand for use to be here - not after what we did... What I did."

"If she's angry, she's awfully quiet about it," Gale remarked, handing Belladonna her sword. 

"That's what scares me. If she is angry...I don't feel it. Or hear it. There's only silence."

"Let's go. Aylin's bound to have unleashed something against Ketheric, and I want to see it." Karlach said, stepping closer to the portal Aylin had opened for them. Belladonna nodded, eyes still focused on Shadowheart. 

"Thank you."

Shadowheart shook her head, "We'll talk once we're out."

Shadowheart looked around one last time, Gale and Karlach already through the portal, Belladonna waiting for her. She gave her a nod, Bella entering the portal when she felt something yank her back. 

"Shadowheart, Shadowheart, Shadowheart," Shar's voice echoed in the area, dark tendrils engulfing her, dragging her back to the center of the platform. She clawed at the stone, trying to find something to hold on to when something heavy slammed down on her back, crushing her down into the hard rock. The wound flared, making her cry out in pain. It didn't subside but continued as if a molten hot poker was being driven into it.

"You rejected your duty. You spurned my embrace! You ungrateful CHILD!" Each sentence emphasized with a punch on her stomach, face and ribs. She felt the tendrils shift, hold her up, one still choking her like a noose as the more came down on her body like the lashes of a whip - each strike making her bleed, making her cry out in more pain. 

The wound continued to burn, molten fire continued to bury itself deeper and deeper, making her blood boil. Another tendril held onto her hair, pulling it with so much tension it felt like it was on fire. Shadowheart said screamed, crying out at each and every lash of the whip that touched her.

"You could have wielded my spear, carried my voice. Instead you are NOTHING. And I will leave you with NOTHING." Shar yelled out, Shadowheart feeling the pain from the wound engulf all of her body. Flashes of faces, many she knew but didn't at the same time wormed their way into her mind, Shar now by her ear. "All of my children, your former siblings, will know what you are: a traitor to the darkness. One who embraced not only the light but fell for one of Selûne's. You are marked, and rest assured, your precious little Selûnite will be too."

The pain ceased suddenly, allowing her to breathe. She looked up to see Shar's giant visage looking down at her with scorn. "Leave. You are now an outcast. You are not welcome here."

She felt herself get thrown from the platform, wind rushing past her as her cries were silenced, her body be tugged out of Shadowfell. She opened her eyes to find herself floating, surrounded by fog.

There was no pain. Not anymore.

"Pity how she discards what those who can no longer serve her," she heard from behind her. Shadowheart looked to find a woman, silver hair, tired but caring eyes looking back at her. "Eons to learn but still, my sister doesn't seem to understand that mortals can change, will change. It is in your nature- to be ever changing, like the seasons or the phases of the moon."

Selûne.

"Why..."

"She only wanted you since you were mine, gifted from a young age by my moonlight." The goddess stared into her with piercing silver eyes "As my sister likes to reiterate, what is hers, is also mine."

Shadowheart felt familiar magic fill her, "I'm not..." she started to say, Selûne giving her a soft smile. "Why are you helping me?"

"Your hesitation is understandable, young one. But I must thank you for helping one of my own. You are unique in this; a child of light born under my holy moonlight but marked by my sister's darkness. Your domain of tricks, her domain, no longer fits you but you do not fit that of the light either. Light still alludes you, for your turmoil is still too raw. You are in a space in between, one of dusk and twilight."

"You are free to use my power, I give it to you freely to use but the choice will be yours. It's now up to you to decide your own fate. But I will watch over you. Both of you." She felt herself start to fall, Selûne's smile being the last thing she remembered along with her parting words. 

"Thank you."

The portal led them back out in front of the Mausoleum, startling Wyll from his guard. "What... You're back!"

"What happened? What was that light streak that came out of the cave below?" Astarion asked them, Bella checking herself to make sure she was in one piece.

"Where's Shadowheart?" Lae'zel asked, everyone whipping around to see her gone.

"We need to go back!" Bella yelled out. "We can't leave her in the Shadowfell!"

"The orbs are stuck on the other side," Gale said, thinking through possible scenarios, Belladonna growling. "Wyll and I will be able to get two of us down but we'll need to rest again before heading to Moonrise. We need all our magic."

"I only need an hour's rest to gain mine back," Wyll said, putting his hand on Bella's shoulder. "I can take you."

They felt another portal open, Shadowheart stumbling out of it, Karlach catching her. "Dark lady, forgive me..."

"What happened?" Bella asked her. "You were gone...I thought..."

"Shar...she blocked me. I failed her..." She said, panic in Shadowheart's eyes. "Worst...I...I defied her. Just because of what that aasimar said!"

Belladonna could feel her rage at Shar temper, stepping towards Shadowheart to hold her, Shadowheart still numb. "What have I done?" 

"What do you want us to do?" Karlach asked, everyone looked at her for guidance, the rest of the group waiting on them.

"Lae'zel, did you do what I asked?" Belladonna asked, Lae'zel nodding.

"Jaheira has been told. She will keep some Harpers back to protect the refugees but who can fight, is ready. We've set up a camp below by the water. We've cleared the enemies while we waited." Lae'zel's eyes softened. "For what it's worth, I am impressed. You chose rightly and courageously."

Shadowheart didn't seem to hear the words, still in her own mind. Bella motioned for them to leave for the camp, still holding Shadowheart close. Once they were alone, did Belladonna ask what happened. Shadowheart recounted what happened, the torment Shar put her through for her defiance before she was let go.

"I'm alone..." Shadowheart whispered. 

"You're not alone. You have me. You have us." Belladonna reminded her, holding her tightly. "All of us are here for you. Even if you no longer have your magic, we are here for you. You're still a capable warrior. Shar did not define who you are."

Shadowheart looked up at her, eyes softening. "I suppose I do, don't I. You've done more to help me these past weeks than my faith has, for better or for worst. I'm sorry, for forcing you to go through that. I thought my faith was the most important thing in my life."

"I would have thrown away your love for her. I'm sorry," Shadowheart said. "Forgive me."

"Already have," Bella said, kissing the top of her head. "I'm sorry too. For doubting you. I should have trusted you. I should have known your heart, the light inside of you would win against her. But I doubted you."

"I've squandered too much time already. I want to be with you, only you. Now and always. Do you want the same?" There was uncertainty in her voice, Bella lifting her chin to look at her. 

"Ai Armiel Telere Maenen Hir," Bella repeated, placing a chaste kiss on Shadowheart's lips. "You have it forever."

In the darkness of the Shadowcursed lands, light began to trickle in through the clouds, the stars becoming visible once more. 

Tonight, they would rest for tomorrow, a great battle awaited them.

Chapter Text

Shadowheart looked out at the camp, carefully watching the others prepare for the upcoming battle. 

She had spurned Shar for them. The Dark Lady has marked her to be a traitor, an enemy to everything she knew. Everything she was was raised to believe.

Or thought she knew...

She had turned away from the darkness mostly for love but Aylin's words also hit a nerve. She had never shared that memory to anyone else but Bella. Bella knew her fear of wolves was paralyzing enough that they would actively scout for them and avoid any dens if they found any.

But how could Aylin have known about that? Was she truly the child of a god?

She looked up to see Bella, in her commander mode and wondered... No she couldn't have They would have felt the parasite pulse if Bella had used the Ilithid powers. Every parasite they had come across was immediately tossed into the fire, all of them vowing never to use it unless necessary. No one else could have given Aylin that memory.

"Hey soldier," she heard Karlach say, snapping her out of her reverie. The tiefling stood near, rubbing their neck awkwardly. She gave them a smile, Karlach taking a deep breath in before continuing. "I just want you to know how damn proud I am of you. That couldn't have been easy, turning your back like that. I'm sure Bella's your first choice for this, but if you ever need an ear, I have two always open to hear you with. If you need a hand, a shoulder, anything. Let me know."

"Thank you, truly," Shadowheart said. "Although this might still be too raw for me to fully grasp."

"Standing offer, any time, any place, any one you want to vent about, I'm all ears," Karlach winked as her giving her a pat on the shoulder before pulling her up to a hug. "We're all here for you."

She was let go, Karlach giving her a kiss on the top of her head before being called away by Lae'zel to prepare her own javelins. She was left alone again with only her thoughts. To wallow on her own sorry. Even if her friends was with her on this, none of them have been disowned by their own people. None of them have... 

She stopped herself, eyes going over to the one companion that would know, that went through the same thing, eerily enough. 

Lae'zel stood over her grind stone, eyes checking Bella's sword over with a frown, sound of the grind stone starting up again as she found a dull edge. Vlaakith had forsaken her, branded her a traitor and had set the others against her yet she didn't break. Since then, they were ambushed twice by her kin and twice she did not falter in her conviction. She could have surrendered herself to them, accepted her death yet Lae'zel continued to believe in what Voss has promised her, making that her new mission in life.

Her gaze moved to Belladonna as well, both women, started out as her enemies. One she fell in love with, pulled enough at the latent good in her that she was able forsake her own goddess while the other would end up to be the closest person she had shared experiences now.

She looked up at the dark sky and really wondered how she got here, eyes going to the faint moonbeam illuminating Last Light in the distance. Everything cycled back to Selûne and memories she didn't have from before her time with the cloister. The memory of her as a child frightened by wolf now had a new, possible meaning behind it. The fact Selûne herself came thank her for freeing her daughter when she knew divine intervention in mortal matters wasn't common, or shouldn't be.

Yet, she's done so twice.

Shadowheart felt it come up, letting out a shriek as everyone immediately turned to her. Bella was beside her in an instant, holding her as she dropped to her knees, clutching her hand. She felt Shar twisting a proverbial knife into the wound, reminding her that she was still watching, ever present in this land until Ketheric is dead.

They all heard it - familiar shrieks by now, followed by howls and something in Shadowheart's mind knew immediately who Shar was after. "She's...she's going after Last Light." She let out, Bella helping her up. "She's going after Isobel."

"Lae'zel on me! Gale, the scroll!" Bella yelled out, the wizard digging through his pack for the scroll Isobel specifically gave to him, handing it over to Bella to unseal.

"Leave the camp to us, go. We'll meet you at the bridge to Moonrise." Wyll said motioning for Karlach and Astarion to follow him.

"Tch, your goddess is more petty than I gave her credit for. No matter. Her creatures will die." Lae'zel proclaimed, Shadowheart couldn't help but agree as Bella unsealed the scroll,  spell sending them back to the courtyard of the inn.

Panic had already set in as shadow hounds run amok, whatever was left of the Harpers fighting them off as the refugees ran inside the inn. Umbral portals pulsed out, Shadowheart growling as several Dark Justiciars emerged from them, screams getting louder.

"Close the portals! It stops them from coming through." Bella shouted to the Harpers before turning to them. "Gale, up top, provide cover. Lae'zel, you do what you do best. Shadowheart - inside - help Halsin and Isobel. Go!"

They scattered, Shadowheart looking over her shoulder once to see Bella covering for Lae'zel has the gith's greatsword came down heavily on one of the Dark Justiciars that appeared. She looked up at the moon in the sky, high above them, the tears following the waning moon like children following its mother. Shadowheart clutched her hand, still uneasy about what Selûne said and gave freely to her but now wasn't the time. People needed her.

The children needed her.

A flash of the boy entered her mind again, making her shake her head as she breathed in deep. No more. That wasn't her anymore. 

She ran inside the inn, hearing a roar as a bear she recognized to be Halsin blocked the door to the shared chambers, many of the tieflings gathered in there. "Ignis!" she said as the firebolt flew past the justiciar's head, making it turn to her.

"Se..lunite..." it growled out, Shadowheart tensing at the implication. She still wore Shar's armour but even the husks before her knew...

Halsin roared, swiping at it as it tried to walk away from him, distrcting it enough for Shadowheart to kill it with her glaive. She felt another pulse, making her look above them. There was another orb. Another justiciar. She nodded at Halsin before running up the steps towards Isobel's room. She saw the portal, saw the it pulse once more as one of the crusader emerged, hollow helmet looking directly at her before turning it's gaze. 

She heard a grunt, a hurt Isobel pulling out her spear from a Justiciar, bloody arm protecting one of the tiefling children behind her. 

"Selu...nite..." the crusader called out, Isobel glaring at it and at her. She looked between it and the portal, eyes making contact with Isobel for a brief second. Isobel still didn't trust her but understood, bracing herself with her staff, trying to move Doni further behind her. 

*I hope you weren't lying to me* she thought, feeling familiar magic fill her hand again. "Flagra!" she shouted, beam of radiant light hitting portal, cracks appearing immediately on the orb. The crusader turned to her, moving away from Isobel when Isobel struck it in the back, eyes sparking as she channeled lighting into her spear once again. The Justiciar seized briefly, turning again to pull the spear out of its back. Shadowheart focused another guiding bolt to the portal, finally hearing it crack and shatter just as the justiciar tossed Isobel's spear away, pulling out its own sword to strike at Isobel twice. 

"Get away from her!" she shouted, throwing a fire bolt at the crusader, its focus still remaining on Isobel. "I said get away!" Shadowheart repeated, slamming her hand down on the ground, feeling the moon's magic come down in a bright silver column of light. The Crusader hissed, turning to her as it stopped its assault on Isobel. 

The crusader rushed for her, Shadowheart managing to block the first blow but the second blow took the wind out of her lung as it picked her up. She struggled under its hold, empty helmet staring up at her as she was held aloft. She could feel the hatred coming off of it, Isobel lay bloody nearby, breathless as she used her body to protect Doni, spear too far away.

"Death...to...Selûne," it growled out magic forming in its hand. 

It happened in a flash, Shadowheart thinking of what she saw Isobel do before, feeling her magic fill the glaive, feeling Selûne guide her as divine fire erupted from its tip, the Justiciar letting her go with a scream. She drove the glaive into the Justiciar's stomach, huffing as she tried to catch her breath.

Isobel looked at her incredulously, both of them panting as they held each other's gaze. "Since...since when..." Isobel started to ask, Shadowheart moving to help her up.

"Told you I'll figure it out," she said, Isobel smiling as she turned her sights to the whimpering Doni. Isobel did some hand signals, Doni replying back before hugging her. "He says thank you."

"You're welcome."

Isobel signalled back, hands moving in a flurry of signs, Doni nodding as he went back into the room to hide. "How many more are there?" Isobel asked, Shadowheart pausing. 

"I saw two portals by the bridge, at least. We didn't get to check the docks." Shadowheart explained, Isobel motioning for her to follow her to the balcony. 

"May I borrow your weapon?" Isobel asked, Shadowheart giving her a look of confusion. "It's just for me to focus. I'll give it back." Shadowheart handed her the glaive, Isobel inspecting it before nodding. They could see the battle still raging below, most of the orbs now gone but more dark justiciars fighting the Harpers. Bella was still down there, now more bloody but still fighting. She heard Gale cast another spell from above them, clear that he was on the far end of the roof, Lae'zel no where to be seen.

"Moonmaiden guide my hand," Isobel beseeched, Shadowheart watching as her eyes began to glow a blindingly white, Isobel floating down from the balcony as she swept the glaive across the air. A broad beam of white fire burst on the ground below, igniting the dark justiciars remaining, Bella whipping her head up to look up at them.

Shadowheart could only watch as Isobel used the glaive as if it was paintbrush, pushing the fire out, harming only those she willed it to harm. With a final stroke, the fire erupted into a wall, cutting off the bridge with it. Isobel landed below her, panting heavily as she leaned on the glaive. Bella looked between her and Isobel, chest still heaving as the final cries of the battle subsided. 

"That's it. That's final one!" they all heard, Isobel smiling as she started to cough, Bella catching the other cleric. Shadowheart looked around to see the hollowed armour the jusiticiars laying lifeless once again, all the portals gone. Isobel groaned, coughing as she used the glaive to stand on her own free will. "That took too much out of me. I need to get back up to my room, to make sure the barrier can hold." 

"I'll go," Bella said. "You need to rest."

"It's my duty, Belladonna."

"No offense, Silverstar, but you have kept the moonshield up on your own to the detriment of you own health. I will take over and you will rest." Belladonna ordered. 

"Remind me to reprimand you when I have my strength back."

"No, I'll do it." Shadowheart proclaimed, Bella looking at her with confusion. Isobel smirked at her. "I can do it, with Isobel's guidance."

"Bella, take me up there," Isobel ordered, Bella still wearing a confused look on her face. "Do you not feel it?" Isobel looked up. "The Silver Lady has blessed her. Some very significant things must have happened while you were gone. You'll have to catch me up later." Isobel said, Bella just looking up at her with a nod.

Shadowheart clutched her hand as the pain subsided, watching as the moon mote joined the rest of the barrier, strengthening it once again. Isobel smiled at her, giving her a pat on the shoulder as she went back inside, leaving her alone with Belladonna on the balcony. Shadowheart continued to just stare up at the moon shield.

Belladonna didn't move, letting her do her silent vigil to the goddess that she, only a few hours ago, was cursing in her mind. "She Who Guides," she whispered, noticing Belladonna nod. "How long has she been guiding me, I wonder? Guiding me even when I was too blind to see it?" Bella still didn't speak. "Why...why didn't she just give up on me?"

"Just because the light is there, doesn't mean people will always follow it," Bella said. "In your case, the blindfold was pulled tightly around your eyes that you didn't see it. Shar tried to stop it from slipping but..." Shadowheart turned to face her, Bella stopping as she touched her face. "Selûne isn't Shar. She seems to have given you your power back but it's up to you if you want to keep using it."

Shadowheart couldn't help but chuckle. "She said the same thing to me when she pulled me aside in the Fugue plane. Is that part of her scripture? Do I have some readings to catch up on if I do decide to follow her?"

Belladonna blinked. "You met Selûne?" Shadowheart nodded.

"She told me the same words you just said. Told me that I am one of twilight - born of moonlight but touched by darkness." She explained, looking back up to towards the moon. "I don't know if I'm ready to follow a new god yet, not until I speak with the Nightsong," Shadowheart looked inside the door, purposely avoiding Aylin's name. "But if it can help me, if it can help us in all of this, I will gladly accept her help."

"She's always happy to help," Bella said with a smile. "No need to rush things, but I'm glad you're somewhat back."

"Somewhat?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. "I can still heal and harm you, you know."

Bella's smile widened, "You know what I mean."

"Stop being sickly sweet on my balcony. You have to kill Ketheric, remember?" Isobel yelled out from inside the room, making both of them laugh. They reentered the chamber to see Isobel standing by the double doors, Shadowheart's glaive still in hand. "You both owe me an explanation as to what happened in my family mausoleum. Over drinks and some food, after all of this is said and done." Isobel looked at the engravings on the glaive once more, the twin eyes and seven stars engraved on both sides and down its handle. She leaned the weapon forward towards Shadowheart, giving her a nod. "A new chosen spear-maiden. I wouldn't have believed it, if I didn't see it for myself."

"We should go," Bella said, Shadowheart securing the weapon back on her back. "Dinner, drinks and an explanation."

"And a reprimand for insubordination," Isobel said, Belladonna rolling her eyes, Shadowheart following as they left. Isobel caught her arm, making her turn back. "Don't show him mercy. He won't show you any."

Shadowheart held her gaze, the question of family, loyalty and trust all running through her mind but all she did was nod. Those questions would have to be saved for later. Once Ketheric is dealt with. Once this threat of the Absolute is dealt with.

For now, all she could do was nod and follow her friends, her chosen family - the people she trusted and loved, into the fray that was waiting for them.

Chapter Text

A short break was all that they were afforded, all of them rushing towards Moonrise once they all knew that the inn was secure. They could see the trail of Moonfire where Aylin no doubt had been, Bella wondering to herself if they should have told Isobel. She shook the thought out of her head, staring up at the moon. They couldn't risk Last Light or the refugees lives. They had already lost so much. 

Isobel can get reprimanded again later. 

They could hear the clash of steel on steel, Belladonna jumping over a dead Absolutist to block what would have been a fatal blow to Harper Naysa, Lae'zel cleaving the cultist into two just behind her.

"You have some timing!" Jaheira called out, slashing down on the mage in front of her, blood gurgling as they died. "Can't say I don't appreciate the assist but you're late."

"Had to go back to Last Light to secure the refugees and help Isobel," Bella replied, watching as Karlach slammed into the final remaining guard outside with her maul. The call to retreat inside came from the Absolutists, Harper arrows being deflected by mages as they all retreated up the steps and into the tower. "We would have been here sooner."

"Are they okay?" Jaheira asked as she wiped her blades on her leathers.

"They are. Halsin stayed behind to make sure everyone is taken care of. Isobel's resting after using the Moon Fire spell but we've made sure the moon shield will last," Bella looked over at Shadowheart, already helping mend some of the Harpers wounds. The sound of beating wings echoed down as they all looked up to see Aylin in the air, fighting some winged abominations.

"Unshackled from shadows, she will rise in moonlit glory and carve a path of brightness to the accursed one's second death," Jaheira recited. "So sayeth the wise Alundo."

"Blessed daughter of the Moonmaiden, may she light our way," Bella replied. "What's the plan, High Harper?"

"You're asking me? This is your show, young Elteth," Jaheira smirked at her. "Florrick left some of her Flaming Fists and they are securing the docks and dungeons as we speak, your earlier exploits coming in handy for the surprise attack. My Harpers and I will follow your lead, just tell us where we're needed."

Belladonna sighed, looking around her. They had less numbers that what she remembered inside. The Harpers had made a dent but there was still the matter of the Gnolls, the Zhentarim and the blood mage as well. The Absolutist paladins could easily cleave through them, given the chance and the mages... She looked over to Gale, meeting his eyes. "Gale, where's our earlier plan?"

Gale nodded, conjuring up an illusion of the tower. "With the people we have, and what we know is waiting for us inside, I would advise it best we split our forces for efficiency's sake. Have a main force at the front to distract. Two smaller groups around to come from that kitchen area and that sleeping area to cut them off and deal with any surprised in there." Gale changed the illusion to resemble the entrance hall. "If we can get two, preferably three, people up at the rafters that can provide cover, it would help us a lot." Bella nodded, Jaheira smirking as Gale continued, illusion changing to the throne room. "The audience chamber could have their last line of defense - Z'rell or that Warden. Maybe both. We'd need to be careful with either."

"I told you we should have dealt with them earlier," Lae'zel scolded.

"Gods I love that brain of yours!" Karlach exclaimed draping an arm over Gale, nearly sending him tumbling. "Dibs on the distraction team!"

"Karlach, it wouldn't be a distraction any longer if you announce it to them," Lae'zel chided, waiting for her orders as Bella focused on the illusion.

"Is that ogre still with them?" Bella asked, Jaheira nodding.

"They took out 3 of my men alone. That's going to be a problem but I have enough magic left in me to conjure enough ice in there that Frostmaiden would be proud." Jaheira said. Bella thought about it and nodded. They could work with that, especially with Gale's mastery of lightening and Astarion's fondness of fire arrows.

"Jaheira, I need you to taunt Z'rell enough to keep her distracted on your Harpers at the front doors. Give us time to position ourselves. Astarion, Gale, - Up top through the kitchens. You both have the magic to get up there and can protect one another. Wyll, Lae'zel - follow with them but block that exit from kitchens. Don't move in until after Jaheira drops the ice on them. Wyll, keep an eye out for that blood mage but once the ice falls, you and Astarion melt it as fast as you can. Gale drop some lightning once the ice has melted under Z'rell or the Warden whoever it maybe. If any of you see the blood mage, double back to Lae'zel. I don't want her hands on any of you. Focus the gnolls and that retainer of theirs otherwise," Bella ordered all receiving nods.

"Lae'zel - ogre's all yours. Take them down fast. Do what you do best," Lae'zel smirked at her, Karlach groaning. "Jaheira and the Harpers can provide cover from the front, if that's okay with you, High Harper."

"It would be our pleasure," Jaheira confirmed.

"Shadowheart, Karlach and I will go through the sleeping quarters. Shadowheart, focus the mages with me. We need them gone fast and you can get us there with your magic. Karlach," Belladonna turned to her bouncing friend. "Focus which ever commander is in that entrance chamber. To use your words: make the bitches bleed. If I know other paladins, they need to focus to keep their spells up. Break that concentration. Use that new axe we found. Lae'zel can help you once she's done with the ogre."

"I can use my new axe? Fuck yes! Gale! Gimme!" Karlach bounced with excitement, Gale rolling his eyes as he stuck his hand into the bag of holding for her, producing the silver and gold axe. "Come here beautiful."

"Say the word, and we're off." Jaheira said. "Harpers, to me!"

Bella turned to Shadowheart, green eyes still carrying a look of confusion behind the determination. "You okay?"

Shadowheart nodded, adjusting to put the shield back on her back. "Let's see what new divine powers I've been given." Bella smiled at her, looking at the rest of the group around her and the imposing front doors of Moonrise Towers. Shadowheart smiled back, looking up to where Aylin was fighting the abominations. "Let's finish this so we can get our answers."

The tension was clear in the air as Shadowheart looked inside the chamber, Karlach giving her a wink as she crouched down to hide behind a fallen pillar. Bella stood beside her, muttering an incantation to make her sword glow with radiant light. She could still hear Z'rell taunting Jaheira and the Harpers, Shadowheart noticing Gale uncomfortably above them. With a nod, she said the words, teleporting herself and Belladonna behind the mages, the sound of ice crashing echoing in the chamber as Karlach screamed in their rage. 

Shadowheart watched as Belladonna's sword slashed down the mage to their right, blocking the arrow coming from behind them as she saw who was in the audience chamber. The Warden growled at them, Belladonna too preoccupied with the mages for her to see them turn invisible.

"This will be your grave, Sharran!" the Warden mocked, Shadowheart blocking another volley of crossbow bolts from the paladins inside. She could hear someone yell for Gale, making her look back as she watched him fall from the rafters, feather fall catching him last minute before a paladin rushed at him with their glaive, impaling him in the stomach.

"*Macte Virtute!*" She let out a wave of healing magic, Gale, Lae'zel and the rest of their group doing a double take, catching Karlach and Lae'zel smile at her as she turned back to the Warden, letting magic flow through her again. "*Ira et Dolor*" she muttered, radiant spectral light coming off her, blinding those in the audience chamber, spear and shield out to protect those behind her.

There was a large roar behind her, an arrow flying past as she ducked behind her shield, slowly inching forward to hopefully catch the Warden within the aura of holy light surrounding her. She heard Belladonna grunt, Shadowheart seeing the singing blade pierce through the mage as they fell in their own pool of blood, Bella kicking them off with a huff. She gave her a quick nod, Bella running to the paladin on the far side to duel them while she focused on keeping the radiant light around her to protect them.

The Warden let out a shriek, Shadowheart turning to see her reappear, hand burned from approaching her. "Fucking heathen!" she growled out, backing away to shoot her crossbow at Shadowheart again. Shadowheart gripped the spear tighter, letting her magic flow has she lunged at the warden, divine fire sparking out but the spear was deflected by the armour. Shadowheart smirked at her, making the teifling glare at her. "Cocky little shit!"

"You should pay closer attention to your surroundings," Shadowheart said, seeing Karlach rush up to take a swing at the other tiefling, Lae'zel's arrow making her drop the crossbow she held. Karlach's brutal swing cut off her arm, the next one cutting through most of the Warden's neck. Shadowheart walked forward slightly, letting the radiant magic engulf the Warden in flames, looking her directly in the eyes as the flames finished the job. Shadowheart felt sorry for her, another pawn on the board, Ketheric not really caring what happened to them.

She let out a yelp, breaking her concentration on the spell as Karlach swung her around in joy. "You have your magic back! Bangs got her magic back!"

"Karlach! Put me down! We aren't finished!" She looked down to see Bella smirk, walking over to Wyll and Gale to use her own magic to heal them, Astarion shaking as Jaheira's magic healing the shallow cut that had managed to catch him on his face. "Bella, help me!"

"But you have your magic back!" Karlach exclaimed, realizing something as she was eventually put down. "Which god have you pleaded yourself to now? That's how it works right? They lend you their power and you pledged yourself to them?"

Her wound flared, Karlach leering at her hand as she shook it off. "The Moonmaiden is lending me her power as a thank you for saving her daughter. No string attached, she says, but I'm sure there is one." She flexed her hand reflexively. "However, if it helps us in the upcoming fight, who am I to turn it down."

"Pragmatic of you," Lae'zel said, stowing her blade as she looked at the dead woman at their feet. "It does seem your power has grown but caution is still necessary."

"Look at you two bonding," Karlach said, throwing their arms about both of them. She and Lae'zel shared a look, both of them rolling their eyes as the rest of their group joined them.

"Gale's too injured to continue upstairs," Bella said, Gale leaning heavily on Wyll. "Wyll's offered to stay down here, especially since we haven't found the Duke. That leaves the 5 of us." She turned to Jaheira, "Unless you want to join us, High Harper."

"My Harpers and I can hold this floor. If we do that, the tower is ours." Jaheira said to them. "You're close now. A final audience with Ketheric is all that awaits you. We'll make sure no one comes up to spoil your party."

"You sound jealous," Bella teased the older elf. "Don't you want to see Selûne's wrath finally bring down Ketheric?"

Jaheira smiled at her. "It has been a dream of mine. I could be persuaded to join you."

"Then consider yourself persuaded." Bella said, turning to the rest of them. "Are we all ready?"

"Fuck yes!" Karlach shouted right into her ears. Shadowheart pushed herself away from Karlach, finding herself beside Bella. The paladin gave her shoulder a squeeze as they all marched up the steps, towards the rooftop.

"Go! I have this!" Lae'zel said, slashing through one of the skeletons, sizing up the necromancer at the end of the hall. Bella gave her a nod, Shadowheart channeling her divine magic to obliterate the remaining skeletons, giving them access to the double doors to the balcony.

Using their shoulders, she and Karlach pushed against the doors, all of them rushing up the steps to see Aylin still fighting in the air. Karlach and Jaheira flanked right while Astarion and Shadowheart went left, all of them waiting as she moved to where the general was. Ketheric's eyes weren't on them, looking up heaving and glaring at Aylin, finally realizing they were there too. "You! What have you done?! What have you done to me."

Bella looked up at him, a shadow of the man he once was. Former paragon of Selûne, leader of Moon Knights at their prime, now seething at her in anger, vulnerable and mortal once more. Bella pitied him, seeing him as a mirror to her own mother's madness. "Surrender, Ketheric. You can still redeem yourself."

He chuckled, wiping the same black blood that had come from him before, "Mercy? From a Moon Knight? My, how the order has forgetting its words. How it's fallen in these years," he pointed his hammer at her, "You've come this far. You've stripped me of my advantage. Why would you show mercy now?"

"I'm not like you, Ketheric. I've was taught when there is time to fight, and when to give mercy," Bella yelled out, remembering the letter they had found. "Melodia wouldn't want his for you. She wouldn't want this for Isobel."

There was hesitation in the man at the mention of his wife and daughter, moon peaking out of the clouds to shine down on them. "Melodia...If she could see all I've done...she would know her husband died long ago, when Isobel was taken from him."

"You can still return to Selune...you can still be together in the afterlife." Bella argued. "You can still do what's right!"

Ketheric sneered at her, "Who decides what's right, young paladin? The gods don't care about us. They don't care for what's right and wrong. They didn't care when they dismantled my life piece by piece." Bella looked up to see Aylin still fighting. "We are nothing but copper pieces to them - tokens to be traded for scraps. When I tried to buy what little of mine back, it costed me everything...Everything." He lowered his hammer, falling to his knees. "You may have beaten me, young Alenthiel," Bella's jaw tensed. "But the gods have beaten me first. You'll see....You'll see."

She looked over to Shadowheart, memories fresh of what they endured at the gauntlet. "It's not too late, Ketheric. It doesn't have to be the end. The Moonmaiden's me-"

"KETHERIC THORM!" Aylin yelled out, landing beside her with a thud, greatsword already drawn and ready.

"Aylin..."

"Stop! Aylin!" Shadowheart called out, running over to them. "He's surrendered!"

Aylin glowered at them, "Ketheric Thorm would sooner die than lay down his rank cause. Isn't that right, General?"

Bella shook her head, "Aylin! Stop! He's surrendered! We're better than he is. Show him mercy!"

Ketheric let out a low laugh. "I was a fool to hesitate. You..a bigger one." He stood up, using his hammer to help him. "You have one last chance to bow. Once it's gone, I'll have no choice but to destroy you both. Old houses be damned. Do you hear?! BOW!" 

His eyes glowed the same eerie green Balthazar's did, Bella feeling the tadpole in her head squirm. All of them felt it pulse again, psychic energy coming off of him, Bella gritting her teeth as she tried to hold on to her consciousness. She saw something move, Shadowheart's pouch pulsing as the Astral Prism freed itself, hovering by them as it let out it's own distinct pulse, sending them off the platform to the roof with a groan. The prism pulsed once more, floating towards her, Bella clutching it in her hands before passing it back to Shadowheart.

"You...you had it all this time! You worm!" Ketheric growled out. "If you don't bow, then you will break!"

"Give him all that you have!" Aylin called out, eyes glowing the same ethereal white, Bella pulling out her own sword to make it glow in the same radiant light. "THE GODS FIGHT AT OUR SIDE!"

Karlach let out a roar, rage taking over as she charged at the skeletons on the side, cleaving through two of them. The necromancer muttered a spell, Bella watching as Jaheira rushed to stop her, a giant beating egg of bone bursting from nothing beside Karlach. Bella rushed towards Ketheric, locked in a battle with Aylin, slashing at him on the leg as he blocked an attack from Aylin. 

A searing beam of moonlight made her turn away, looking over at Shadowheart concentrating on the spell, eyes locked with Ketheric's. "Selune...where was this when I needed you?" he called out, hammer coming down against Belladonna's shield, making her buckle under its force. "Where was your help when I needed her?!" The second blow came slammed with more force, sending Bella back against a pillar, making her drop to her knees, blood spilling form her mouth. "Playing favourites, like always. Devotion was never enough for her. There was always someone else. Nothing has changed."

"Bella!" Shadowheart called out, running towards her, sliding caught her from falling again. "I've got you." Warm healing magic filled her lungs, helping her breathe again as Aylin struck at Ketheric once more. 

"Move the moonbeam over them both," Bella asked, getting back up on her feet.

"That would hurt her. And you."

"Trust me," Bella said, pumping herself with the last bit of her own healing magic. "It wont hurt us as much as it would hurt him."

Shadowheart nodded, eyes looking over as she pointed her spear towards Ketheric and Aylin, moonlight coming down on them both. Bella rushed over, feigning an attack to his wounded leg, switching her grip to one Lae'zel is more familiar with to get underneath his shield, stabbing right through his chest, moonlight burning her slightly. Ketheric grunted, stepping away from them both, Aylin once again at the ready as was Bella. 

"Enough!" Another green pulse shoving them away from him, Bella landing onto Karlach.

Bella looked over at Aylin, the aasimar taking flight, radiant fire enveloping her as she hovered, greatsword pointed up. "Moonmaiden hear my plea!" Aylin cried out.

Ketheric's eyes glowed as he looked up at the sky, pointing his hammer at Aylin. "You must return to your prison. And my daughter must be reclaimed from your lies."

Bella saw the hesitation in Aylin's eyes at the mention of the other cleric "Your daughter? Isobel? She's alive?"

Ketheric's eyes glowed red, all of them feeling the tower tremble as they all watched in horror, a massive tentacle burst forth from below them, hitting Aylin out of the sky with a massive thud. "You will fall as sure as she. Selune will answer for her inaction," Bella grunted as she tried to get up, Astarion sending a volley of arrows at the tentacle with no avail. The tentacle moved, hovering over both Ketheric and Aylin, close enough to touch them. "You don't know what you're in for. This has only begun!" Ketheric announced, tentacle touching them to make them disappear.

"NO!" Bella called out, Karlach holding her as they watched the appendage retreat. "Let me go! We have to follow them!"

"That's suicide at your state, Belladonna," Jaheira said, stowing her blades. "You need to rest. All of you."

"We cant leave her with him!" Bella argued, still trying to push herself off of Karlach. "She's suffered enough by his hand, we need to get her now!"

"This is not an argument, Belladonna. This is me, as the High Harper, giving you a command. You need to rest." Jaheira said, getting right up at Belladonna's face. 

"And you said this is my show! Let me go!" Belladonna struggled, Karlach still holding back easily.

"My Harpers will scout ahead for you. We will bring some of the Fists with us. We will keep this area secure while you and your companions recuperate. We can buy you some time, but if experience has taught me anything, what that thing is...It can't be good. We need all of you at full strength." Jaheira reasoned with her.

"We don't have that much time!" Bella continued to argue. "He'll kill her!"

"And he'll kill you as well. Everything you've done to free her, you will throw away if you don't rest." Jaheira argued back. Belladonna turned away, Shadowheart by her side now tugging at her sleeve to let it go. "Go back downstairs and rest. Let me handle this. I promise, you will be able to save her. Just rest for now."

Karlach moved them away, only letting her go once they were by the steps. Bella growled once she was let go, eyes going one last time to the hole the tentacle burst from. "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." Shadowheart echoed. "We'll beat him. We'll free Aylin and we'll get our answers."

Bella's eyes met Jaheira's one final time before descending back down the tower, moonlight fading behind the clouds.

Chapter Text

Shadowheart watched as Belladonna paced around the room they had decided to claimed for their rest, the paladin clearly agitated by being told to stay away from the roof in the meantime. She knew the sense of urgency but they were all tapped out of magic, even her. Lae'zel and Karlach seemed fine but she knew even they must have been tired themselves. Its been a long two days, and too much had happened but this...this wasnt helping her get her rest. She sighed, moving to be in Bella's path to stop her from pacing. "You're giving me a headache."

"Oh you can pace around the camp but I can't?" Belladonna teased, Shadowheart rolling her eyes as she held onto Bella's hands. "I'm just worried."

"Aylin survived the Shadowfell for a century. Tortured as she was, she is still a divine being. Her anger will not make her fall that easily, especially now that she knows Isobel is alive." Shadowheart reasoned. "I want to get to her quickly as well, but this...this isn't helping."

Belladonna sighed, pulling her in to hold her. "You're right"

"I know I am. Now, can you please sit down?" She asked, pointing to the bed. "Help me with my hair?" Belladonna nodded, allowing herself to be pulled towards the bed. Bella climbed up first, sitting herself against the wall as she joined her, Shadowheart giving her the brush to start brushing out her hair for the night. 

"You have taken all of this surprisingly well," Belladonna said, undoing more of her hair to brush it. "How are you feeling, truly?"

"Introspection might be my worst enemy right now," she said leaning forward to let Bella have better access. "As much as I am trying to focus, the idea of turning from my goddess, all that I have ever known is still unsettling. But I know that my choice is done. That she has given the order and I am no longer one of her children. For the sake of our group, I have to keep going with what has been offered to me, what's been offered by her." Belladonna hummed in acknowledgement, working on some of the knots that had formed in her hair. 

She let silence take over them, Belladonna using her fingers to untangle more of her braid, running her fingers through it. It felt...peaceful. Homey. It was nice.

But she knew it couldn't really last. 

Her mind wandered back to the task waiting for them in the morning. The same one she just stopped Belladonna from thinking about. What ever that thing was, it was monstrous. She had no doubts Gale is busy pouring over his books right now, trying to find out what it was. This respite didn't feel like it was warranted but the battles they had just fought...She felt the last part of her braid be untangled, Bella slipping the headpiece down with the chains. "How do you not have a headache with it being up like that all the time?" Bella asked, brushing the full length of her hair. Shadowheart chuckled, answering her with a shrug as she let herself get lost in the sensation. 

The memories of doing this with someone else tug at her mind, sitting flush with her back flush as they brushed her hair. The soft kisses on the nape of her neck, their hands eventually stopping to come to her front to...

"All done," Bella's voice snaps her out of her reverie. Her hands wrap around her waist, Bella resting her head on her shoulders. "We should turn in, get up as early as possible tomorrow."

Shadowheart repressed a groan, wanting the sensation to continue, to feel Bella's hands elsewhere but the Paladin had already moved. Of all the things that could enter her mind before their doom...

"You okay?" Bella asked, Shadowheart turning her head to see her lover's face full of concern. Her in that damned, half-opened shirt and her own hair loose from her typical bun. It made her want to take her then and there, to feel Bella's lips against her skin but she nodded, stowing her lust in the meantime as she moved to join Bella in what was to be a more frustrating sleep than normal.

Belladonna stood over the hole punched out by the tentacle, the others finalizing plans behind her. She could hear Jaheira barking orders to the Harpers, Lae'zel joining her to look down. "You know what that was, Belladonna."

"Please don't say it."

"Not saying it out loud will not change the fact as to what it is. It would be foolish of us to think other wise," Lae'zel said, "Know this, if what we found in Ketheric's rooms is correct, we need to take the utmost precaution. We also cannot rule out Gale in this."

"I am not sacrificing Gale's life to save the rest of us," Belladonna turned to her, eyes full of fury. "Do not even entertain that thought, Lae'zel, because it is not on the table. We will figure out how to defeat that thing without the cost of any of our lives. I've made you the same promise as I made to everyone else: I will help cure us of this."

Lae'zel kept a passive face as she spoke, taking her words in. "I hope your optimism is right and that Gale does not need to perish. I have grown fond of his questions and his lectures despite what the rest of you might think."

"Don't get too sentimental now," Gale said, joining them, the rest of the team behind him. "If the Harpers scouting is correct, we need to be focused down there."

Belladonna looked at all of them, Jaheira standing at the ready, all set to head down. "Let's go. No point dallying."

"Lead on," Jaheira said, Gale channeling his magic to cast feather fall on all of them, all of them jumping down. The walls were slick, covered in a flesh like substance that reminded her of the earlier hole they had jumped down in the Oubliette. 

She landed without the thud she was expecting, the floors soft and firm at the same time. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, the skittering from the intellect devourers sending a shiver down her spine as she moved away from the light above to the darkness of the colony. It gave her an uneasy feeling as she sent out a wave of divine power, multiple areas pinging with evil. Lit torches filled her periphery as the others joined her, the look on everyone's faces that of disgust.

"Split up. Karlach, Wyll, Jaheira, Astarion - scout out that area the Harpers found with the prisoners. Call to us if you need us. The rest of you, with me." Belladonna commanded, Jaheira motioning for her group to follow her as they split off into two directions, Belladonna following the path given to her by the Harper scouts. 

Dead bodies were strewn about everywhere, some fresh as she recognized some of the Fist and Harper scouts who died fighting what looked to be some undead hours before them. Bella jumped across the gap, the rest following as another console, same as the one from the ship, stood over an open hole. "Gale?" Bella asked, "Care to take this one?"

"Oh sure, let the wizard handle the creepy console," Gale jested, Belladonna rolling her eyes as he stepped up to the device. 

"Now is not the time for jests," Lae'zel reminded them, crossing her arms in a huff. "Just touch the damned thing."

"I've already stuck my hand in enough weird holes and creepy consoles for the lot of you, thank you," Bella said, earning a giggle from Shadowheart. "That's how I freed you, remember?"

"Alright, alright! I just don't know why you kept doing it then but not now," Gale said, letting his mind connect to the console. Bella watched as his eyes glazed over, looking directly in front of him as he shook his head. "I see, this is why the Harpers had a headache afterwards."

"What? What is it?" Bella asked, Gale moving around to examine whatever he was seeing. 

"It's some sort of puzzle. Give me a moment," Gale replied, hands moving to trace something in the air. They all watched as he moved around the hole, muttering to himself before nodding. He moved faster, using his staff to point at specific areas in the air, most of them ending near the same place. "I've got it!" 

The wall on the other side shifted, Gale grinning at them. "You're welcome."

"Finally earned your keep, Gale. Good job," Shadowheart teased, Gale giving her a light shove. 

"No..." Lae'zel said, moving quickly to where the wall was. "It can't be..."

Bella walked over to her, looking up at the wall on the other side of the chamber. The relief looked familiar, as if she had seen it before. She looked over to see the horror in Lae'zel's eyes just as the tadpole in their skulls all squirmed, a voice entered their minds. 

**"OUR - destiny - DESIGN - downfall-"**

"No..." Bella heard Lae'zel say, the tadpoles echoing the words as they are flooded with memories and loss.

**"- THE GRAND DESIGN - order - perfection - UNITY - every plane - AS ONE - every being - IN THIER PLACE - "**

"NO!" Lae'zel yelled out, Bella feeling the sharp claws of the voice dig in, full of anger, over powering her to her knees.

**"- taken - corrupted - GONE - "**

The voice stops, all of them breathing heavily as silence took over them again. Bella looked over to Lae'zel, fury and hatred in her eyes as she stared at the wall. "We will not let that happen," she turned to Belladonna. "Never again will another Illithid Empire rise!"

Belladonna huffed, wiping the sweat that had formed as she lifted herself back up, looking over at the wall with all it's implications. 

This is why they were all abducted. They were hosts for this new empire...

The Grand Design.

The fear in Lae'zel and Gale's eyes told her everything she needed to know. This was worst than they had imagined. Far worst than any of thier fears had realized with still so many questions left an answered.

"We need you guys! NOW!" Astarion said over the sending stone, breaking through the uneasiness that had come over them. "We've been overwhelmed! Hurry!"

Shadowheart placed her hand on Bella's shoulder, Gale doing the same for Lae'zel as the both teleported them back near the entrance of the chamber, all of them breaking into a sprint as to where the others had gone to. The fleshy door opened, Bella taking in the sight of what was happening: A very injured Zevlor and two injured Fists stood behind a giant, bleeding owlbear, Karlach doing her best to defend them from the escaped Mindflayers. 

She heard Lae'zel growl, disappearing from behind her to behind the mindflayer, impaling it on her sword, not even bothering to pull it out as she switched to her crossbow to hit the next one with a volley of bolts. "Never again!"

Belladonna took that as cue to move to the other ones, ducking as Gale's lightning burned a line on the floor to hit the two by Wyll and Astarion. The mindflayers shrieked, Wyll and Astarion using the opening given to stab through the two. The final mindflayer moved towards Lae'zel, hatred filling its eyes but Bella rushed over to it, bringing her sword up to cut off its tentacles. They all heard it in their minds as it shouted, sending a psychic lance through her, Bella dropping to her knee. Lae'zel pulled her sword from the dead mindflayer, blocking its next attack for her as twin daggers pierced it from behind, Astarion shoving it off with a kick. 

"Fuck...fuck..." Wyll said, huffing as he looked inside the rest of the unopened pods. "He's not here. He's not here!"

"Wyll," Shadowheart started to say, hand glowing with her healing. "We'll find your father. Let me heal that."

"We found fucking Mizora but not him! Why?!" The man lashed out, kicking one of the dead mindflayers. Shadowheart tried to calm him down, Bella looking at the rest of the scene as Jaheira reverted back to her regular form. 

Zevlor was speaking with Karlach and Gale, Jaheira already looking over the two Fists that were in the pod, getting their report. Lae'zel stood over the dead mindflayer, Bella moving to stand beside her, watching as the young warrior take all of this in.

The Grand Design. The rebirth of the Ilithid empire. Subjugation for all races. Lae'zel met her eyes, hardened with the same resolve she had shown back after the creche, against Vlaakith. There was an understanding right then and there that no matter what, they would have to see this through to the end. Both of them had to now. 

"I can take them back up the tower," Jaheira said, breaking the uneasy silence that fell around them. "What did you guys find?" Bella shared a look with Gale and Lae'zel, Jaheira raising an eyebrow at all of them. "That bad huh?"

"Best we explain it to you  after we get proof, honestly," Gale said trying to deflect away from it. "We should get going."

"Right, you have a general to kill," Jaheira said, digging through her pouch to hand over a scroll. "When all else fails, this always helps."

Bella looked at the scroll of fireball in given to her, pass it to Wyll as she gave Jaheira a nod, the Harper moving to helped the injured out, Zevlor not meeting her eyes. 

She waited for them to be out of earshot before sighed out loud, Karlach passing her a carafe of water to wash the blood off her face and cool her down. "What happened?" She heard Shadowheart ask, Wyll explaining what happened before they were called: finding the pods, finding Mizora, freeing her from her confines then getting overwhelmed by the mindflayers when they tried to free the other prisoners. Belladonna took it all in, looking at the back where more tadpoles stewed. 

The stone relief flashed again in her mind's eye, making her glare at the pool with the tadpoles still in it. "Gale, Astarion, Shadowheart," she called out, hand flickering with fire. All three understood what to do as she hurled the first fire bolt at the pool of tadpoles, three other streaks colliding with it soon after. It wouldn't stop those what has already left this place but it would stop what was already there. 

"What did you all find?" Wyll asked, "Was my father where you were?"

"No., we didn't find him there. We found something else," Belladonna said, turning around to face the group. "It was a relief of the Grand Design. Something spoke to us, replaying memories of the tadpoles when we saw it. This Absolute...it's a sham for the Ilithid to rebuild the Empire they had lost. One that we all must stop, lest we add to their army." Bella turned to Lae'zel. "And we will stop them. You have my word on that. Even if we find a way to pry these tadpoles out of our eyes, I will help you with whatever you need to do to stop that plan from ever happening."

"I will hold you to that promise," Lae'zel nodded at her.

"I know you will." Bella said, looking at the rest again. "Anyone too injured to continue or are we all ready?"

"No more dallying, we know where we must go. What we must do." Lae'zel said, turning towards the door already. 

Karlach smiled, taking a deep breath. "You heard the lady. Let's march!"

They all crept quietly towards where the figures were talking, Bella glaring at Ketheric as he spoke with the others. She looked around to see where Aylin might have been, seeing her bound to another soul cage on the far side of the area. 

Ketheric stood with two others, Wyll gritting his teeth as they watched his father be used like a chair by a blonde-haired woman, skin pale grey and shifting. "Fucking Gortash!" Karlach growled out, Shadowheart and Lae'zel doing their best to hold them back.

"Karlach don't," Shadowheart pleaded. "We need to save Aylin. We need answers. Don't rush in." Karlach not seeming to head her words, eyes focused on the man who took everything from her.

Gale and Astarion watched beside her, all of them trying to listen to the conversation, Ketheric making a move to punch Gortash only to be stopped by a knife by his neck. "If they kill one another, that's good for us right?" Astarion whispered to her, Bella nodding. "Oh good, let's keep watching then."

"I need you to go invisible," she whispered to him. "I need you to free Aylin." She watched as some intellect devourers appeared nearby, all of them ducking behind cover. "Take this scroll and if the spell runs out, use it to cut off that path. But we need Aylin freed."

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Astarion bit out, Bella looking over at Gale.

"I can do it but are we forgetting about something?" Gale said, knocking on his heart. Bella grabbed him by the collar, pinning him against one of the stalagmites. 

"What part of 'no' did you not understand, Gale?" Belladonna said. "You've been a there from the start. I've trusted you since the start. I will not sacrifice any of you for them."

The ground shifted, making all of them look to where the three stood, Karlach growling even more as Gortash's hand glowing purple. "The Edict of Bane!"

"Oh fuck..." Wyll whispered.

"The lash of Bhaal," the blonde exclaimed, holding up her dagger, red aura coming off of it. Bella glared at the names of the gods being said as the giant tentacle appeared and slammed down. She already knowing that Ketheric now vowed himself of Myrkul. 

The Dead Three...

Controlling whatever this creature was. Another giant tentacle, something far bigger coming out of the middle pool in front of them.

She exchanged looks with Shadowheart, her lover's jaw tense up as she continued to hold Karlach and now Lae'zel back. The giant brain floated high above them all, Gale gasping at the sight, the rest of them frozen at what they were seeing. Bella watched as Ketheric moved, "The Testament of Myrkul!" he shouted, bringing the brain to heel.

*An elder brain...one of the cruellest and most  powerful creatures in existence. Enslaved by mere mortals.* The guardian spoke up, Belladonna watching as it continued to rise.

"Look at that crown. It radiates with power unlike anything I've ever seen...." He stepped forward. "To have it...to hold it...If only I could..."

Belladonna grabbed him once more, slamming him against the rock face. "Do not. I swear Gale, I will knock you out if I have you."

"I must do as Mystra commands," Gale told her, meeting her eyes.

"You are not condemning us to death. You cannot make this decision for the rest of us." Belladonna growled out. 

"It's a grave choice you're making for us both, Bella," Gale relented. "But I'll stand by you." She let him go, giving him a nod. 

"Free Aylin with Astarion. No point being quiet now but we need her for this fight." She asked him, moving away to help Astarion hold Wyll back, muffling his screams with her hand as they watched his father get touched by the tentacle, Gortash scolding Ketheric before disappearing. 

She let Wyll go, the man huffing in his anger. "They will pay..." he said, drawing his sword.

"They will, but I still need you to focus, please Wyll," She asked, Wyll breathing a deep breath in as she moved to the open area just below the platform, Karlach and Shadowheart flanking her sides. 

"There you are, as predicted." Ketheric said, slamming his hammer down on the platform, echoing throughout the chamber. "Tell me, Moon Knight - do you fear death?"

"You know who I am, General. You know what my house, what our houses stood for." Belladonna said. "You know we do not fear death."

"Yet your mother had you." Bella's jaw tensed. "Iliranne was always too proud of her position. Too proud and too blinded by her zealotry to see what else was happening outside of her own little world in Neverwinter." Ketheric frowned down at her. "So when the prospect of possibly losing your sister during a Nightfall ritual came about...she grew paranoid. Couldn't fathom the prospect of House Alenthiel falling...broke house tradition to make you."

"You could have run away from it all. From this. Yet the stubbornness your house is known for flows through your veins, just like your mother before you." He continued, Bella still glaring up at him. "You could  have prevented me from fulfilling my destiny if you had just run. But the lure of one's destiny is irresistible, isn't it? To learn what your place is, in all of this."

"What is my place, Ketheric? If you know what I am, then you must have an insight to it." Belladonna asked, eyes defiantly looking up at him, mind going to one of the last conversations she had with her own mother.

"Your place is to protect your sisters." Iliranne's reminded her, Belladonna wiping the blood off her chin with the back of her hand. She looked over to her sisters for help, Baetica looked at her with distain, Hyrcania passive in all of it. Iliranne gripped her face to face her once more, Bella struggling against her mother's grip. "They are the future of the house. You...Your place is to die for them, so they can live on and fulfill their destinies."

"Your place is to die so I may finally live," Ketheric echoed her mother's words to her, making her growl. "My lord Myrkul has given  me the one thing I desired after all this time - the one thing that no other god could grant me - My daughter's life returned."

"You ripped her from the Gates for your own selfish wants!" Belladonna yelled back. "You do not get to control Isobel's life or death for your own selfish needs! She's her own person, as much as I am my own! Her destiny wasn't set out by you as much as mine wasn't set out by my mother! We are not your playthings!"

"You're too young to understand," Ketheric said. "I have fought great wars in the service of your god. Her god," he pointed to where Shadowheart was. "But for Myrkul, for what he's given me back, I would condemn all of Faerun to death." He raised his hammer towards her, Belladonna unsheathing her sword. "I will kill you now. And then raise you to be one of my servants. Fulfilling your destiny as intended."

"Enough!" Bella yelled out, eyes glowing in brilliant white light. "Let's finish this."

"With pleasure." Dark green magic gathered around him as he pointed his hammer towards her, Bella feeling her energy get sapped as an egg made of bone appeared near them. Karlach yelled in her rage once more, slamming her axe against it as she charged towards the skittering intellect devourers head on, Bella hearing Gale and Astarion disappear from behind her to appear near Karlach, Astarion dodging all the aberrations to get to Aylin.

*"No,"* she heard something say, stunning Astarion as he crested the top of the platform. *"You won't be doing that."*

"That one is mine! Go!" Lae'zel said, running to catch up with the rest, sliding to a stop to shoot at the mindflayer concentrating on Aylin's cage. 

Wyll split from them, moving to her left to deal with the skeletons above them, Bella hearing their shrieks as fire streaked out from the warlock. Bella channeled her magic around her, disappearing from beside Shadowheart to be face to face with Ketheric, blocking his first blow with her shield, him smirking as her blow glanced off him. She felt necrotic energy surround her as his hammer come down on her, sending her flying off the platform. 

She felt her head spin, vision blurred as her eyes tried to focus again. The picture of her mother appeared before her, blue eyes glaring down at her. **"Pathetic, Belladonna,"** she heard her call out, Bella shaking her head at the sound of her name. **"Get up."**

"You're not real," Bella muttered to herself. "You're not real."

**"You would really let a dead man best you?"** the voice mocked her, Belladonna moving to her knees. **"You should have stayed disowned. Baetica was right."** She shook here head, seeing the courtyard of her childhood home, three figures standing over her, same blue eyes glaring down. 

"Bella..." A different voice said, shifting to a more recently familiar one. "You're ok. I got you." Shadowheart said, Bella feeling her healing magic flow through her. She shook the daze away, seeing Aylin and Karlach fighting Ketheric as Gale sent streaks of fire towards the mindflayer, helping Lae'zel. She felt her head, still aching but the blood from the cut now healed. "You're ok."

Bella gave her a nod, Shadowheart rushing away from her to block a blow for Astarion as he set a volley of fire arrows to the skeletons Wyll had engaged with. She stood up from her position, magic flowing through her again as she reappeared behind Ketheric, plunging at his back as Karlach knocked away his shield. Aylin glowed in her ethereal light, searing skin as she brought down a blow with her greatsword, deep gash now going through Ketheric's armour and front. Belladonna pulled her sword out, readying another attack as Ketheric staggered back from them.

"Fools...You cannot kill me - I am eternal!" he stepped back from them more, "Myrkul...Lord of Bones...I am here. I am ready." Ketheric looked directly at Belladonna, "I am yours." They all watched as he fell back into the open pit, none of them moving fast enough to catch him as they felt the room shake. 

You dare end one who belongs to me? A voice came from the center of the chamber, pit glowing an eerie yellow light. I am the god of graves and age. Of dust and dark.
Loose rocks fell, as they felt something emerge from below them, a giant skeletal hand emerging from the portal, making them move back.I am Myrkul, and you have slain my Chosen.

Another arm comes forth, Bella looking over at Aylin, the woman taking flight to summon more radiant light. But that is no matter. The giant visage of bone and gold emerged from the center, Aylin sending holy moon fire against but it kept its gaze on Belladonna. For I am Death. And I am not an endit reached out towards something, Belladonna watching as a scythe, impossibly large came flying towards them, the avatar of death standing in front of her ready to fight. I am a beginning.

"Oh. Oh dear..."

Chapter Text

"Give it your all!" Aylin cried out as she landed beside them, her voice snapping them all out of the paralyzed fear they held as Belladonna looked up. 

"Shit." Shadowheart said, immediately casting out an aura around herself, Belladonna backing up to be back to back with her. She heard Wyll yell something out, Bella muttering a spell under her breath as she touched her shoulder, seeing her spear glow in further radiant light. Bella dashed forward, sword glowing in brilliant white light, jumping over the scythe as it swung out around them, clipping Karlach as they tried to jump over it.

"Expectorum!" Shadowheart shouted, summoning moonlight down on the giant skeleton, making it shriek as Aylin slashed at its face. Arrows flew at it as Astarion ran past her, Lae'zel appearing to slash twice at the skeleton. There was a wave of necrotic energy that came around them, draining their energy as she felt some of her magic weaken. "Be careful! It's draining our life force. We need to take it down. Fast!"

"Gale! Wyll! Cover fire now!" Belladonna yelled out, dashing forward to cover Lae'zel, Wyll disappearing to move to the other platform. Twin fire balls hit the skeleton's face, Shadowheart keeping her concentration on the fiery moonbeam, searing bone as Aylin, Bella, Lae'zel, and Karlach continued to slash at it. 

It howled as it summoned more skeletons, swiping at the fighters, sending Bella and Lae'zel off the platform. Her eyes glowed the same silvery white light Aylin's eyes and Bella's eyes had glowed before, channelling more of the divine magic down as Aylin soared higher again, circling it from the other side as streaks of white hot holy fire followed her.

She saw Bella and Lae'zel climb back up, both of them in the same familiar stance as the two sliced through the Avatar's ribs while Karlach's hammer slammed down against it's arms. Two more streaks of fire blasted its face as Aylin swooped down with her blade, cutting through what should have been its neck with a flash of radiant light, holy fire burning the skeleton as she landed herself where the mindflayer was. 

The Avatar shriek as it withered away in a fiery blaze, the chamber rumbling causing many of the stalactites to fall. Shadowheart moved to shield Astarion from a falling rock, both of them landing off the platform as she watched the moonlight fade from above, the body of a heavily injured Ketheric Thorm appearing once more on the platform. 

Shadowheart scrambled up to her feet, leaving Astarion to sit on the ground as Bella called for Lae'zel and Karlach to yield. "Impossible...death cannot take me...I am its master..."

"Your destiny has come for you," Belladonna said flatly. "Your god has abandoned you. Your lord has forsaken you." Shadowheart watched as Bella stabbed him through the chest, making him lurch forward onto her. "You will never hurt Isobel again."

"Isobel..." he said as he was pushed off the sword, Aylin landing beside her to look him. Shadowheart gasp as the aasimar, eyes still full of radiant light stomped on him neck, heavy boot crushing down as she continued on and on, anger and vitriol spilling from her. She moved to stop her but was herself stopped by Bella holding her back, eyes hardened as she stood by to watch, Shadowheart looking at Karlach and Lae'zel who shared the same similar looks - hardened and uncaring as all of them allowed Aylin to take her frustrations on the dead body of Ketheric Thorm.

A century of pain. A century of death she would have contributed to. Shadowheart watched with them, imagining the scenario where Aylin wasn't here and wondered if Bella would be the one doing this instead. The thought made her shudder. 

"The villain is DEAD!" Aylin said, stomping down one last time, eyes now falling to Bella's as she let out a final exhale. "Now...now...we pick our way towards our fates...unleashed." Aylin bowed to them. "You have my sword - my fealty. We will talk further once we leave this wrecked place. Do what you must."

*Ketheric's Netherstone - It's in his armour. Take it.* The dream visitor commanded, Bella bending down to to pry out the glowing pink stone its confines using her dagger. Aylin's watchful eyes was still on her as she held up the stone, radiating with energy when she felt something behind her open.

Lae'zel and Karlach growled as Shadowheart moved to be beside her, Aylin's greatsword once again in her hands as the dream guardian wearing her mother's face emerged from the portal. Bella held her hand up to make her friends still.

"Iliranne Alenthiel. One of the Seven," Aylin acknowledging the creature before her, the guardian's eyes fixed on Bella. Aylin watched quietly, hand hovering over her zweihander. 

"Remarkable, truly," the guardian said, "The Absolute is neither god nor man. It is the elder brain you all saw, held here by the dead three's chosen against its will. The crown it wears controls  it, and these stones control the crown. It has been dominated." The guardian's tone shifts, Bella just watching it move. The others joined them on the platform, all of them listening, Bella catching Gale's eyes as it spoke further. "To master an elder brain...to subdue it...Our enemies are formidable."

"How are you out of the prism right now?" Bella asked, the guardian's eyes softening. There was something off about this all. Something...wrong.

"A temporary reprieve, but a welcome one. With the brain on it's way to the city, its influence here has weakened." Bella glared at the thing in front of her, knowing full well it was not her mother. "You still do not trust me."

"What gave it away?" Bella asked, the guardian sighing. "Since you seem to know things about our enemies, thanks for the heads up by the way, what are these stones?"

"The crown bears markings that suggest it was forged in Netheril," Bella saw Gale's ear perk up at the word. "It's a crown of domination and the stones were taken from its crest. They imbue those who hold the stones to power to control the wearer of the crown, as if it's a puppet of their will. And the three chosen are of those of the Dead Three."

"Fantastic, another ploy from more gods," Astarion said, Wyll and Karlach tensing at the implications.

"The crown's Netherese magic must the the true source of the parasites' abilities. What elevates their potential and why no one has been able to heal you. If the crown can do this to the parasites, I dare not imagine what it is doing to the brain." The guardian said, contemplating the implications.

"What hope do we have if the gods themselves are involved?" Wyll asked, the guardian turning to him. Bella met Lae'zel's eyes, a subtle understanding that they all needed to talk about this...guardian.

"Our chances of success are slim but we must not fail. If we fail, everything ends," The guardian said, turning back to her. "I will be your shield, but you must be the sword."

"Thanks for stating the obvious, mother," Belladonna said sarcastically, earning a chuckle from Aylin. The guardian's eyes flash with something different, Bella knowing she's gotten under its skin.

It waved its hand, opening a portal for them to use. "When the chance comes to strike, we must take it. Follow the other two to the city. We can formulate a plan then." With that, the guardian disappeared once more.

"The Dead Three, an Ilithid invasion, a creature wearing a your mother's face and a fight for survival of all of Faerun," Aylin commented, "You have a lot of explaining to do, Belladonna of House Alenthiel."

Her house name made her flinch but she met Aylin's gaze. "Let's get out of here, and I will tell you all."

Shadowheart felt her hand flare as Aylin dropped to her knees, Isobel stroking her scarred face. Bella ran her gloved hand caressing the wound as they watched the lovers reunite.

"Got it - All you Selunites are disgustingly cute and devoted to their partners." Karlach commented, earning a laugh from Belladonna. Karlach walked away, Lae'zel following them without word, knowing the tiefling is bound to find trouble

Isobel remembered where they were, asking Aylin to put her down as  Shadowheart and Bella approaching them, Bella giving both of them a bow. "So this is your paladin, Silverstar."

"Yes, this is Aylin. Aylin this is -" Isobel turned to see a smirk on Aylin's face.

"Belladonna of House Alenthiel, we have met." Aylin's eyes go to her, giving her a smile. "And the little warrior who turned away from Shar. They are the ones who freed me most valiantly from the Shadowfell. They watched my boot crush the very brain of villiany - and fought well against your changed father. 

"May he rest in peace at last," Isobel said. "So...You owe me, us, an explanation, Belladonna."

"And Aylin owes me some as well," Shadowheart replied, Bella nodding in agreement. "Whatever you have to say had better be worth your life."

Isobel glared at her but Aylin just laughed. "Explanations all around it seems. Let us leave this place, and find refuge elsewhere. Merriment is a must, now that we have defeated a great evil." Aylin brought a hand to her chin. She was about to say something when loud cackle erupted from behind them, Lae'zel coming out of the room with two barrels of wine.

"FUCK YEAH! PARTY AT LAST LIGHT!" Karlach yelled out, carrying two more barrels of wine under her arm. "Kitchen's still full of shit we can bring back! Gale! Bag!"

She smiled as Jaheira tried to wrangle the rest of their group. Shadowheart rolled her eyes at the scene. "This can only end well," Isobel joked, hearing another crash in the kitchen area. "Perhaps we could join you in your camp later, after all of this has died down to discuss things."

"You'd be most welcome," Belladonna replied.

Shadowheart looked up at the sky, the half moon now hiding behind some clouds. She looked back towards the inn, celebrations just starting but she wasn't in the mood for them.

Aylin had found her shortly after they had come back, Everyone had split up to start making food and to drink. Isobel pulled Bella away to help with the Moonshield and probably have their own talk. 

Her parents....her family.

She sighed, wondering what else Shar took away from her. Did she have any siblings? Did she forget them too?

"Hark, little warrior," she heard from above her, Aylin fluttering down to land on the water like it was nothing. "You seem troubled. Speak and I shall lend you my council."

"You really don't have to," Shadowheart said, "Just reflecting on what you said. What I should do."

"Tonight, you should want for nothing but rest and merriment. Your companions no doubt miss your presence, especially young Alenthiel," Aylin said kneeling in front of her. "Come morrow, you can figure out what you should do. Speak with them. They have helped you as much as you have helped them."

Shadowheart gave her a knowing smirk, Aylin standing up her full height. "Did Bella ask you to come find me?"

"She has and I gladly came to fetch you. She and Isobel need their dance partners after all," Aylin reached out her hand to help her stand. "Come! We frolic under the moonlight, as mother intended!"

Shadowheart laughed at the tall woman before her, still clad in plate armour compared to the rest of them, and followed her inside, music already seeping out the inn. Everyone greeted them as they entered, drinks were immediately thrust onto their hands, Aylin's laughter booming as she and Karlach started singing long with Alfira and Bex.

Another round of cheers came their way as Belladonna lifted her mug once more. Shadowheart lifted her goblet, already feeling some of the wine's effects but her mood wasn't much for celebration.

Not this type anyways.

She tugged at Belladonna's sleeve, motioning for her to follow as she set her goblet down. Bella looked back at the celebration, taking the hint as she downed the rest of her ale in one go, allowing herself to be lead out the back of the inn. She caught Astarion's knowing smirk and Karlach's grin as they left, Bella's laughter filling the air, the first time really that the elf let herself relax. 

Shadowheart lead them somewhere quieter, the moonshield still illuminating the area around the inn, the shadows having receded significantly. She looked around them, pulling Belladonna towards underneath the stone bridge, passing Bex and Danis out of their evening stroll.

"Where..." Bella started to ask as she pulled her in for a kiss, Bella immediately responding as they lost themselves in each other. Bella backed them into the wall under the bridge, hands moving down to her hips to bring them closer, lifting her up easily. Her legs wrapped around Bella's waist, burying her hands in her hair as she loosened the bun Bella's hair was normally in. She felt her lover's hands wander under her shirt, feeling cold fingers against her heated skin.

Shadowheart held her tightly, giving out a low moan as Bella broke away, lips moving to kiss down her neck, fingers inching higher. "Wait," Shadowheart managed to say, Bella immediately stopping. Her lips lingered at the pulse point, giving it a soft kiss as  she waited for permission to continue. "Inside, let's go inside."

Belladonna groaned, still holding her lover against the wall, words being spoken to her neck. "There probably isn't any room. With celebrations going on after all." 

"And we had to give Aylin and Isobel our camp for their own activities," Shadowheart teased, Bella raising an eyebrow at her.

"You're the one who pulled me out here," Bella leaned to whisper in her ears. "I'm sure you can think of something." Shadowheart shuddered, looking around them, reminding her where they were. She bit her lower lip, thinking of what spell that could possibly help them right now but Bella pulled back, giving her a smile. "I don't mind waiting, but..."

They both heard footsteps approaching, Bella setting her back down in a hurry, Shadowheart tugging close to cast invisibility on them both just as two Harpers came to do their rounds. Nyasa looked around them, Shadowheart feeling her heart in her throat as Belladonna's fingers lingered on her hips, lightly caressing her her side. 

The Harpers eventually continued their patrol, Belladonna's laughter cutting through the tension as she felt herself get picked up and kissed, melting once again to it, spell fading eventually. They parted eventually, Bella smiling at her, "Jail cells or a damp cave?"

"What my tent isn't a risque enough area for you?" Shadowheart teased, Bella's smile turning to a grin.

"Could go back down to the gauntlet of Shar and fuck on the bed in Balthazar's room, if you'd like. A double fuck you to Shar and Myrkul."

"And have her smite me just as I learn about my family? No thank you," she playfully slapped Belladonna on the shoulder. She shuddered at the thought of doing it back in the gauntlet, let alone in that Necromancer's room. She was pretty sure he was still there as well, headless and beaten. Her body shuddered once again. "And with that, you've successfully squashed the fire. Thank you for that."

Belladonna laughed, "Then I think it's time for another round of drinks. We can try again later. Maybe the jail cells would be more inciting."

"Why? Are you telling me that you need to be punished and sent to the jail? " She raised an eyebrow at her partner, Belladonna giving her a wink as they found their way back up towards the inn, Shadowheart noting that Belladonna didn't ever let her hand go. 

The group had decided to take a couple days break to recuperate and plan. She held back a snicker as Jaheira rolled her eyes, the High Harper not doing anything to stop Gale from giving an impromptu history lesson in the middle of the inn when he overheard Isobel ask Belladonna about the Ruining. Shadowheart watched as Aylin's eyes glossed over, already bored but trying to sit still as Isobel listened intently.

Illusory script appeared beside Gale, some of the other occupants of the inn stopping to listen and learn while others tried to get out as fast as they could. Karlach and Astarion immediately left, saying along the lines of "hell no" and "I lived it". It made her happy to see Silfy and Doni amongst those listening, completely fascinated by Gale weaving magic and history together.

He talks of the Spellplague, the Ruining of Neverwinter, Belladonna and Jaheira adding what they could going over 100 years of history with heartfelt interruptions from Isobel for an elaboration. 

By the end of it all, 3 hours later, Isobel understood what had happened in her absence, Aylin had fallen asleep once, eventually getting dragged away by Karlach to spar with (Aylin was thankful for it, Karlach making the comment that she'll get used to it), leaving Isobel to talk things over with Bella and Jaheira.

"That wasn't too much, was it?" Gale asked her as she helped him prepare the vegetables for that night's dinner.

"Gale, any lecture from you is too much," Shadowheart joked, making him frown. "But you have a knack of making it interesting. Professor Dekarios sounds like a good title for you."

"I'd be a bad teacher, I think," he said, Shadowheart shaking her head. "Half the class would fall asleep."

"You'd be a great teacher. Role model, not so much."

Gale beamed at her as he put the meat into the boiling pot of water. "There it is. There's the Shadowheart I know. Glad you're feeling back to your normal self."

The inn eventually emptied out, the garrison of Harpers and Fists helping the refugees to the city ahead of all of them. Only a skeleton group of Harpers remained, all of them now visibly more relaxed as the darkness lessened. 

Shar's presence over the land was diminishing day by day, and the druids of the Grove had come to help Halsin right the wrong done to the land. They still kept up with the Moonshield, Shadowheart helping Isobel more often than Belladonna now, learning what she could about the Moonmaiden while still being wary of her new powers. Jaheira stayed back with them, knowing the bigger threat and was a welcome presence with her wit and her wisdom. 

Shadowheart stood to the side by Aylin, dressed in Bella's spare clothes, as they watched over Isobel, Bella and Jahiera go through the fallen remains of a battle past. None of them was present for it, but Belladonna tried to explain to Isobel what she heard from her mother and sisters, Jaheira explaining in further detail what happened.

The fall of House Thorm was treated to be a betrayal the other 6 houses, all of them mustering their might to bring together who and what they could. Hyrcania Alenthiel, Bella's middle sister, nearly fell to a Dark Justiciar, only to be saved by a Harper ally. Shadowheart listened, Aylin too, but she could tell it was bothering her more than she was trying to let on.

Isobel stood at the open broken door of her family mausoleum, looking at the carnage left behind by her father. Jaheira explained the tremendous loss they had to endure to seal him in, hoping to have bought enough time for them but he let out the curse, empowered by Shar and all of Reithwin fell to the dark.

The stark contrast of the many alcoves, still made unholy from Balthazar's necromantic rituals in comparison to how clean the area of her and her mother's tombs were made Isobel furious, now knowing that it was she was a pawn for the gods, Balthazar killing her while she slept, killing her faithful dog Squire as well. Shar used her death to manipulate Ketheric into doing her bidding, building the Gauntlet below them and starting a war that ravaged the lands until they had come along.

She felt the need to hug her, though their friendship was still tentative, she had seen how much Isobel did truly care about her. How she had embodied every aspect of Selune's teachings and why Aylin would have fallen for her. 

Aylin stepped away from her, Bella taking a step back as the two disappeared inside, no doubt to take it all in with fresh eyes. Bella squeezed her hand, eyes looking at her to see if she wanted to go down with them but she turned around. She'd spent too much time in the dark already. Shadowheart knew now, that everything down there, everything that could have happened down there, was just Shar using her to be a pawn. 

Even if Selune was using her too, she knew at least that she now had friends who wouldn't betray her. That they would do anything for her and her for them. She looked at her reflection in the silver moon of the grave just outside of the Mausoleum, dark hair still in stark contrast to what she was now believing in.

She needed a change. 

Wanted a change.

"Shadowheart?" Bella asked, "Something wrong?"

She shook her head, "I've been lied to most of my life. My parents...they're alive. I think a part of new always knew that, but Shar denied it, surpressed it from me. I cant change the past but as Aylin said, my future, that's on me now."

Bella wrapped her arms around her. "Whatever you do, you'll have me by your side."

She leaned up to kiss her on the cheek. "Thank you. We'd be going into a pit of vipers when the time comes and I cant bear to lose you agian, if you rush into a foolish fight. Not after everything we've been through," she paused, Bella wrapping her arms around her tighter. "There's something I must do. One thing I need to see to."

"Anything I can help with?" She shook her head as she stepped out of Bella's grasp.

"You'll see for yourself soon enough. Just leave it with me."

"I trust you," Bella reassured her. "Just promise me you wouldn't rush off headlong into danger."

"Without you? Never."

It was only later that night, once everyone else had gone to sleep, once she knew Bella had gone into a deeper trance, did she slip away to sit by the lake, looking up at the moon. 

"You sure you want to do this?" she heard Isobel ask from behind her, Astarion in tow. That was a friendship she hadn't anticipated though Bella did point out later to her that Astarion and Isobel share the same sense of sarcasm as she did. Bella chalked it to up to their elven blood, Astarion and Isobel flipping her off as they went to the docks for their nearly nightly gossip sessions, Bella sitting in on them to keep her hair shorn on the sides. 

Astarion had jumped at the chance to help Isobel to cut her hair, the two just chatting about everything and anything, all dripping with sarcasm and wit, so when she approached him with her question, there was no hesitation as well.

"Positive," she told them Astarion rolling his eyes as he set down a stool at the end of the dock.

"Do your little Selunite ritual. Just don't get holy water on me," he warned, Isobel smiling a wicked smile at him. "And save some of the milk for His Majesty. He'd probably kill us if we don't bring some back."

"So if I bless the wine, would you burst into fire? Good to know," Isobel asked walking to the edge of the water's edge to cast a spell on all of them. Astarion flipped her off, earning a laugh from the other cleric, Isobel taking off her boots to walk confidently on the water, grabbing the bowl to pour some milk into it, dipping the owl feathers in before putting in moonstones. 

Moonlight shone above them, Shadowheart following Isobel to exactly where the moon was shining brightest. "You sure?" Isobel asked once more, knowing that this rite of initiation wasn't to be taken lightly. Isobel had explained to her this last night when she was approached her about the subject. The initiation to Our Lady of Silver's church, let alone clergy, bound her soul to the Moonmaiden forever. 

In life. 

In death.

Her gaze went to the moon itself, thinking about everything that has happened;  Meeting Belladonna, meeting all of her friends, their adventures together so far, falling in love...Selûne might not have been perfect, no one was, not even gods, but she's helped her in more ways in such a short time compared to her lifetime with Shar. 

The thought of Bella crossed her mind again. Her soul was pledged to the Moonmaiden. She had begged the gods to bring her back, and it was Selûne who answered. If something were to happen to her again...

Shadowheart shook the thought out of her head. She wanted to be with Belladonna. In this life to its fullest and the thought of them never meeting again in the afterlife scared her. And If Aylin said about her parents was true, they were to go to the Gates of the Moon as well.

"I'm sure," Shadowheart kneeling at Isobel's feet, closing her eyes. Isobel nodded, as she started the rite. Moonstones levitate around her, mist forming around them. Isobel's words disappeared with the sound of the wind, Shadowheart feeling the anointed owl feathers lightly touch her, feeling the wetness of the milk on them as the feathers skated over her skin. She gasped as she felt the darkness retreating from her mind and heart. The wound flared, making her scream in agony when Isobel touched it, making her stop. Shadowheart's eyes opened, grey eyes met green, giving Isobel a nod to continue, breathing heavily as the Shar tried to tug at her, tug her back. She felt a hand on her shoulder, Isobel's eyes glowing the silver light she had seen so many times now.

"May She who guides light the way. May her light bring back the lost in the darkness. May she guide them to a new dawn, and a new path," Isobel said, voice directly behind her. Shadowheart took a deep breath, feeling the freezing cold milk get poured onto her hair, flowing down it as it soaked through her.

"Bloody hells, Isobel! You could have warmed it up at least!" she yelped out, hearing Isobel laugh.

"Nope! It's part of the ritual," the other cleric teased, muttering some familiar words and Shadowheart yelped again, water coming from above to soak her thoroughly. "Normally, this is done with someone floating in the water, by the way. Naked. I've modified it for you and only you, as she commanded."

Shadowheart shivered as they walked back to the dock, Astarion handing her a towel to dry off. "Not your hair, I need it wet to work with it," he chastised as he moved to give her enough space to sit on the dock. "I can't believe you both roped me into this silly ritual of yours."

Isobel blew him a raspberry, "Please, like you'd trust anyone else with her hair."

"It won't be as fabulous as mine but I can make it better at least. Those bangs were so passé."

"Can you please just start? I am freezing!" Shadowheart begged, hearing a huff from Astarion and a laugh from Isobel.

"I'll get you some warm cider and a fresh pair of clothes," Isobel said, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "Welcome, truly. It's nice to have you."

"Go! Let me concentrate!" Astarion said, shooing Isobel away, earning a slap from her. He started quietly, Shadowheart taking in the white strands now falling from her once dark hair. "You sure you want to bind your soul to another god just as you've freed yourself from one?" Astarion asked.

Shadowheart looked down at her lap, knowing where he was coming from and his hesitation about it all. The gods had abandoned him, or so he felt. Many, including Selûne, did not look favourably on the undead. Two centuries of nothing, and their predicament with the dead three has probably enforced his wariness some more. "I won't be using my powers against you, if that's what you're afraid of," she deflected. "But thank you for your concern."

"While I'm happy you found acceptance in all of this, love and happiness as well, I'm just worried that you, and Bella," Astarion confided in her. "And to be honest, I'm starting to be more worried about her. Turn around, I need to fix your god awful bangs."

Shadowheart turned herself, closing her eyes as Astarion continued to work. "We all heard Ketheric taunt her. Her whole thing with her house... Her family seems to be catching up to her. She's putting up a front but I think she's more worried about that than she's let on. Isobel's plan on calling on the other houses for help, while it may work, would probably make our fearless leader break."

Shadowheart thought about his words, berating herself for not cluing into it sooner. Bella was too busy taking care of them, putting all of their problems ahead that no one really checked with her why and how she was abducted. She said in passing that she was at Yartar to investigate the Sharran presence there but nothing more as to why or who sent her. "Let me speak to her. Get some much needed answers for all of us. But if it comes to blow with her sisters, we'll make sure that she's protected, even if she doesn't want it."

"I hate the fact that I care for you all."

"You love us," Shadowheart teased. "We're family now, Astarion," the word made him gag and she let out a giggle. "You cant get rid of us that easily."

"I can shove you off this dock right now if I wanted to."

"Uh, no, you can't. Not with those weak noodle arms of yours."

"I'm still holding scissors to your face, woman." Astarion threatened, Shadowheart knowing full well he wouldn't do it.

"You wouldn't dare. Not with 3 other Selûnite near by that can easily smite you out of existence," Shadowheart opened an eye to see him roll his. 

"Already using your new goddess against me, typical." He said, "Now hold still. I'm almost finished." Shadowheart closed her eyes again, hearing the snips of the scissors and the faint sounds of boots coming towards them. She felt something warm press into her hands, eye opening to see Isobel back.

"Looks good."

"Of course it does! I did it!" Astarion boasted, Shadowheart practically hearing Isobel roll her eyes. She heard a few more snips, Isobel staying quiet through it all as Astarion declared he was finished. "You owe me for this. Both of you."

"Once we get to the Gate, you can feast on a whole cloister of my former allies," Shadowheart said, earning a glare from Isobel. "Too much?"

"A bit but we can talk," the other cleric said. "Here," she handed her a mirror. "Silver hair looks good on you." She looked at her reflection, eyes seemingly lighter, even to herself amongst the backdrop of white hair. "The Chosen of Selûne, back in its fold."

"Thank you. Both of you." Shadowheart said, grabbing the spare clothes from Isobel. She received twin nods, all three of them sitting on the docks to discuss what they could expect once they were in the city, moonlight brightly shining down on all three of them.

Chapter Text

She felt the bed dip, Bella feeling the tendrils of sleep retract as her eyes blinked awake. There was a swear, some shuffling before some pretend snores came from her partner. She snaked her hands around Shadowheart's waist, feeling it colder than usual. She felt Shadowheart shift, green eyes looking up at her while hiding inside the blanket under a curtain of white silver hair.

Belladonna blinked. Shadowheart studied her as she brought up her hands to her hair, feeling it under her fingers. "Do you hate it?"

Belladonna gulped, feeling the same pull from last night. "No, why would I?" She asked, brushing some back behind her ears. "You look beautiful no matter what."

A small smile filled Shadowheart's face, Bella leaning down to kiss her. Soft kiss turned to something more, Shadowheart deepening it as she pulled Belladonna closer, hands lifting up Bella's shirt to take it off. They broke from the kiss, Bella moving the blankets off as she took her sleep shirt off, drinking in the sight of the woman below her. Silver hair was splayed out on the bed, Shadowheart's cheeks flush from the kiss as her chest heaved. "That's not your shirt."

"It has to be washed, after last night," Shadowheart admitted, beckoning her back down, "You're free to rip this off, if you want."

Bella bit the bottom of her lip, dipping her head back down to capture her lover's lips on hers, slowly undoing the buttons of the shirt she wore. She broke the kiss once again, lips travelling down Shadowheart's chin, down her neck to kiss further and further down her chest. Both of them had needed this, wanted this.

A knock on the door made her curse into the valley between Shadowheart's breast, hearing Shadowheart muffle a curse in her hands as well. The knocking stopped before starting again. "Belladonna, I know you're awake. You're supposed to help with breakfast. Come on," Isobel chastised from the other side of the door. "Stop making out with your girlfriend and come help."

"I hate her," Shadowheart said, Bella giving one last kiss to her stomach before getting up. "Just because she got her fill..."

"Patience is a virtue, or so they say," Bella leaned down to give her one last kiss on the lips, grabbing her shirt off the floor to don it once more. "We'll find time, don't worry."

"I'm holding you to that," Shadowheart said, stifling a yawn. "Wake me when it's ready?"

Bella nodded, running a hand through her hair before fixing her shirt. She opened the door to the cheshire cat smile of Isobel. "She's going to kill you one of these days, you know that. And I wont stop her."

"Please you both love me," Isobel replied, Bella following her to the inn's kitchens, Gale already there. "I found her for you. I'm going to bed now. Wake me when we're about to leave."

"You..." Bella started, Isobel giving her a wink. Gale merely laughed at her, tossing her one of the aprons.

"Slice the fruits, I'll prepare the eggs." Gale said, Bella giving Isobel a glare as she left. "I'll bore them with another 3 hour history lecture, if you'd like. Give you and Shadowheart some much needed time alone." Belladonna blushed, just shaking her head as she started on the fruits for the group's breakfast.

They looked back at the inn, waving goodbye to the druids as they all marched towards the edge of the town. Shadowheart looked around her, Thaniel leading the way, flowers blooming where the boy stepped. The area was healing, slowly, but it was healing. She adjusted her pack on her shoulder, passing the statue of Ketheric in the middle of town, making her look up at the man with Isobel, Bella and Aylin behind them. 

Isobel said a silent prayer for the man that was once her father, his true self now lost to the monster they had fought and defeated. Isobel gave everyone permission to grab anything they wanted from the tower, not wanting to even venture into her old rooms for the painful memories it held. 

An ear piercing screech made them all stop, Halsin immediately going in to cover Thaniel and moving him away. Lae'zel pulled out the qua'nith, the device pointing straight ahead towards the bridge. Shadowheart channeled her new found powers to touch Lae'zel, allowing her to see further in the darkness. "There, I see one of them," Lae'zel whispered, drawing her sword. Shadowheart's eyes fell to the figure above them on the bridge, tuff of hair peaking out from behind the wall. 

"Spread out," Belladonna said, motioning for Asatarion and Wyll to move to the other side of the road, Karlach following them as quietly as she could. "Keep Thaniel safe. We've got this," she whispered to Isobel and Aylin, both nodding and hanging back.  

"Bridge," she warned Gale, hands glowing as she summoned an orb of light to light up the area. She heard the githyanki hiss out at the light, hearing various spells from her companions as they moved in on the would be ambushers. 

The fight was quick, Shadowheart not dismissing the light as Bella and Lae'zel inspected the fallen bodies. "They're getting more bold. Guessing Vlaakith isn't too happy we've killed everyone's she sent so far."

"She will not stop until she has the prism and my head. Let them come, we shall continue to slay more," Lae'zel warned, stripping the sword off the kith'rak that fell, tossing the sword to Karlach. "It will fetch a good price in the city."

"You don't want it for yourself?" Wyll asked, handing her some of the crossbow bolts from the archers. Lae'zel shook her head. 

"I will earn my sword through my own merit," the woman said, holding her head up high. Aylin clasped her shoulder, Lae'zel not even moving from the taller woman's strength.

"A true warrior's way! Bravo, little frog." Lae'zel's eye twitched at the nickname, Karlach turning away to snicker with Astarion. Halsin reappeared with Thaniel, the boy showing great sadness at the dead.

"I do not know any Githyanki funeral rights," Isobel said, Lae'zel shrugging off Aylin's hand to just look at the other cleric.

"There is no need for one. They were weak. They do not deserve to be remembered. This land can take them, to help it regrow." Shadowheart nodded, Isobel capitulating, all of them helping move the bodies up by the house of healing to be buried. Shadowheart saw Isobel still give a silent prayer, Halsin moving the earth to place all the bodies in, quickly burying them.

"Well friends, this is where we part ways for now. I will join you once I am able to," Halsin said, putting a hand on Thaniel's shoulder. "Once I know this area is secure, I will find you in the city."

"Here," Jaheira said, giving him a note. "Find that shop. The owner is a friend of mine. Not a Harper but a trusted friend. He'll know how to contact me in the city. We'll come get you from there."

"Thank you," he bowed his head to all of them. "I'll see you all soon."

"Take care big guy," Karlach said, giving him a hug. "See you a few days. We'll make sure not to have too much fun without you." Halsin let you a chuckle. 

They all waved goodbye, Halsin and Thaniel waving at them from the top of the foot bridge they had just fought on, her and Bella taking the back of the group. She looked back at the town, tree in the middle of the path beginning to heal and bloom. Shadowheart leaned up to kiss Bella on the cheek, Bella bringing their foreheads together. "I love you."

"I love you too."

They had overcome the darkness in over the land and in her together. They followed the others, hand in hand, uncertainty still in the air but they knew they'd face it together.

The first night's rest had been interesting, Shadowheart noting the group's tension but more so, their excitement. There was an energy about the camp, probably brought on by their guests, Aylin's mere presence giving them all an energy seemed to be contagious. She looked around the camp, almost everyone still shuffling about when they would all normally have retreated to their own individual tasks, only some having settled into their own corner.

Isobel and Aylin had taken Bella's tent, Isobel first trying to reject it but everyone seemed to eager to happily inform them that the two of them have been sharing bed for sometime now anyways. The smirk that spread over Isobel's face was that of mischief, making both of them blush. Isobel pressed for details. Astarion gladly took that as an invitation for another gossip session, Aylin rolling her eyes but didn't make a move to shoo him away, but instead putting him to work to put up the tent with Isobel.

"They are both a menace," Shadowheart pointed out, Bella shrugging as Aylin looked on with deep fondness. 

"I hath reservations on the vampling alas his intentions bare no ill will. My darling Isobel radiates with joy as she did before the darkness consumed her. All the thanks, young Alenthiel," Aylin said, Shadowheart seeing Bella flinch once more at her family's name. "Why do you flinch at your own house's name?"

"It's...complicated," Belladonna deflected, turning away from the woman. "We should go and help Lae'zel with the firewood."

"Stay," Aylin commanded, Bella stopping almost immediately. "What conflict are thou not telling us, young paladin? If it is about your family, speak freely, so judgment against them can be passed."

Shadowheart saw Bella fidget, very much not like herself. There was an uneasiness that would overcome her when her family was brought up. Only Jaheira's mention of her father didn't make Bella nervous. Her mother's side however... "I..." Bella started but stopped.

"We should go, we'll catch up later, Aylin." Shadowheart said, Aylin seemingly catching on that Bella did not want to talk about her family as well. The aasimar's eyes softened but said nothing as Shadowheart pulled Bella away with a promise to talk later. 

Shadowheart had seen some of Bella's memories: The brutal training she had to endure under her own mother, the longing she wanted from her sisters and how lonely she had been through out most of her life under her mother. Bella hid it well, Shadowheart always chalking it up to her being a solider as well but only now did she realize how loveless her life must have been, outside of her order and now.

"What was it like?" She asked as they patrolled the camp, Bella still clearly agitated from being asked about her family. Bella turned to her, eyes confused, but Shadowheart kept her eyes straight on the path. "The Selûnite temple turned goblin camp. You said you've been there before. What was it like?"

Bella stopped and sighed. "Where we first kissed was where we used to go after our duties was done, to sit and relax. Last time I was there, my friends and I were celebrating one of them getting engaged. They were going to move away for this girl, but I've never seen him so happy." Bella fell back in step with her, hand brushing against hers. "Even if my sisters hated me for leaving our order, I had no regrets about it. The Moon Knights...Our ranks were rigid but compared to what I grew up with, we were allowed to form genuine friendships. To form meaningful loves."

Shadowheart felt her heart stop. Of course Bella would have had another before her. Bella was far older than she was, so why wouldn't she have had anyone else. 

Bella seemed to have sensed her worry and wrapped her arms around her. "I've had trysts with others, but anyone I was ever romantically interested in, my mother would have tested, or wanted to test. I was afraid of her so I never brought anyone home. I put my oath over everything else until now."

Shadowheart turned around, getting up close to hold her face. "You are not your oath. You are not that same woman who was shaped by zealots." 

"You're seeing the irony in this, right?" Bella asked her, Shadowheart squeezing her face to make her focus. She could feel the wound flare out but Shadowheart ignored it, a slight eye twitch the only thing that betrayed her focus.

"Yes, I see the irony but you told me yourself you're trying to be better than what your mother wanted you to be. And from what I've gathered, your mother was a bitch."

Belladonna chuckled, leaning down to touch their foreheads together. "She would have hated you so much, even if you weren't a Sharran."

"I'm with you, not her. She can go rot in the deepest parts of the Abyss for all I care," Shadowheart admitted, earning a laugh from Belladonna. "Why do you not want to talk about your family?"

"Family is complicated," Bella said, leaning down against her forehead. "Most of the time, my sisters don't want nothing to do with me and I don't want anything to do with them. I've learned not to trust them, but because of the reach of our name, I can't help myself but to use the house name every now and then to bypass most things. Obviously more things can be explained but..."

Shadowheart kissed Bella once more, cutting her off. "The more you talk about them, the more I want to strangle them for you. So we'll just stop there," she turned around once more, handing Belladonna the hairbrush once more. She heard her laugh, feeling her hands on her hair, slowly starting to undo it.

"Thank you," Bella said. "And I would honestly pay to see you fight Baetica. Or at least give her a piece of your mind."

"Once this is over, I most certainly will."

When they all stopped for next night, it was at an older outpost, about a day away from the city. Jaheira remembered that it used to be an old guard house for the Fists when they still had outposts further than Rivington, but abandoned it when it was overrun by some a death cult. Bella heard her cuss the Fists out as she walked away, shaking her head at how the Jaheira of legend actually compared to the woman herself.

Bella looked up at the structure, climbing to the top of the tower to overlooked the city. They were nearly there. And then...She looked up to the moon, looking for answers. It wasn't time to doubt but she just hoped they haven't fully used all of Selune's favour just yet.

She went through everything they had to still do in the city and it seemed overwhelming. Voss was waiting for them, Jaheira had to check in with her Harpers, there checking in with the tieflings, Astarion's former master, rescuing Shadowheart's parents, getting revenge against Gortash...the list seemed endless.

Bella felt people behind her, Astarion, Shadowheart and Lae'zel joining her at the very top.

"So that is Baldur's Gate," Lae'zel stated, Bella looking down to the valley below them. 

"Urgh, I can't believe I'm willingly going back," Astarion commented. "We are still going after Cazador, yes?"

"It's on the list. We have to get in first," Bella reminded him. "We'll have to find a way through the Fist barricades it seems."

"I can show you how I got out, if that would help," Astarion said. "Fancy a stroll in Rivington?"

"Will it involve blood and death?" Shadowheart asked sarcastically.

"Gods I hope so, we haven't had any distractions as of late," Astarion said, Bella shaking her head. 

"Let's go back down, get an early start tomorrow," Bella suggested, looking back out to the city once more before following the rest back down.

Bella wiped the blood of her chin, glaring at where the portal used to be. Lae'zel had stalked away, upset as to what had happened but more upset with herself for not paying attention to the scripts, she said. She looked around the camp, at least 6 dead githyanki honour guard laying there, dead. 

The Emperor, he called himself, tried to argue that the deception was necessary, that it was all done to protect them. She wanted to be smug, call him out but she held her tongue for the group's sake. They still needed him and he still needed them. Even if she wanted to shove her sword through it right then and there but there was truth behind his words. 

They were working with a mindflayer the entire time and the power he was using wasn't his. It was the Githyanki Prince, this Orpheus, that had the power to protect them. 

It wasn't the Emperor on his own.

She clenched her other fist, holding the newly given tadpole in her hands, far different from the others they had seen. It was paler, bigger and pulsed a great amount of psionic energy even as she just looked at it. 

They have resisted the lure of the tadpoles thus far, keeping everyone in check. but this one....

Shadowheart placed a hand on her shoulders, "Almost everyone seems to be uninjured, thanks to Jaheria and Isobel's resistance. They were able to protect the others but the sleep spell doing a number on Gale. Karlach says it was the best nap she's ever taken so she and Aylin are taking tonight's watches since they are too wired to sleep." Bella nodded, still holding onto the astal-touched tadpole, "You don't have to make a decision on it tonight. Toss it with the rest for now."

"Are we making a mistake? Still trusting it?" She asked.

"Maybe," Shadowheart replied, kneeling in front of her. "But you've lead us this far, without taking anymore. We've all seen with our own eyes exactly what it can do, but we can't rule it out, not just yet."

Belladonna sighed, still looking at the astral-touched tadpole, wondering how much more they'd have to endure for this war they were now the main cast of.

"We'll figure it out."

"I hope so. I really hope so."

Chapter Text

She felt herself awake in a dark room, curled away from the body beside her. The warmth of the other person far enough away but she could feel it still, on her, in her, the memories of the night before coming back to her. She looked over to the woman beside her, blonde hair blocking her face, slowly breaths confirming she was asleep, making her sigh.

She slipped out of the bed, stalking the empty halls of the villa, until she found the room she needed to be in. Slipping inside, she found the other woman - her true target - sleeping soundly in a trance like state. She pulled out her dagger, spilling the vial on poison on it as she stalked closer and closer. She paused, rememb ering her mission, the words she muttered before coming here, saying them once more as stabbed the elf through the stomach, blue eyes opening in shock, face now oddly familiar looking.

Shadowheart gasped as she sat up on the bedroll, hands trembling as the wound flared painfully. Shar wanted her to remember that night, that woman in particular. Silver hair of a Selûnite, much like hers now, but with familiar blue eyes. She panted, clutching her hand as she tried to calm herself, mind racing as she tried to remember anything else about that night. 

The crest above the mantle she passed, twin rapiers sticking out from behind it: Silver shield, blue crisscross bands, 7 eight pointed stars on it.

She knew that house crest. She's seen it multiple times by now.

House Alenthiel.

The tent flap opened, Belladonna's familiar mismatched eyes catching her off guard. She watched as her lover's eyes went from happy to concerned, but she could only stare. "Are you okay?" The same blue from her dream looked at her in confusion. 

Bella moved close, making her flinch away. She cursed internally as Bella's brow furrowed. "I...I'll be out soon." Bella didn't press, giving her a nod before leaving the tent as she continued to clutch her hand. She could feel Shar's laughter in the darkness of her tent, purple and black of Shar still mocking her.

She felt sick. 

Shar wanted to remind her of what she has done, what she was forced to do in her name. She had no doubts this was some sort of ploy and she didn't know Shar's end game with it.

She looked at her hand, pain slowly subsiding and wondered how entangled she and Bella truly are.

And why she was sent to kill her older sister.

Shadowheart sat outside of Astarion's tent, using the vampire's bigger mirror to tie up her hair in her usual style, hands moving on autopilot.

She was in Neverwinter, once before. She was in Bella's home, her eyes falling to her hands, still remembering the weight of the dagger that was in her hands. It must have been a previous mission, one wiped from her memory but now restored to torment her.

Her memory was clear but also fuzzy at the same time. She could see herself moving in the night but not why. Her mission was clear - it was to kill Bella's older sister but why she was sent...Her mind hurt trying to remember specifics, cursing Sharran practices. Now that she was on the other side, she saw how it helped keep the secrets but it didn't help her right now. Not with this.

There was a commotion behind her, Aylin's booming laughter, something being shouted before she felt a hand on her shoulder, snapping her back to the present. "Shadowheart?" Isobel asked, Shadowheart barely hearing it. "You ok?"

"I...I'm not sure. I am, don't get me wrong, it's just -" Shadowheart stammered, shaking her head as she felt the shadow clawing at her again. "I had a bad dream...more like a bad memory restored to me last night." Isobel looked at her with concerned eyes, waiting for her to continue her explanation. "I think...no I was sent to kill," Shadowheart hesitated, looking at Belladonna, Isobel following her gaze.

"From what I've been told, she's tried to kill you multiple times. It's an odd courtship, what the you two have, but who am I to judge." Isobel said, Shadowheart drawing in a sharp breath in.

"It wasn't Bella I was sent to kill," Shadowheart replied. "It was her sister. Which one, I don't know."

"That...that complicates things." Isobel said, taking it in. "What do you remember from this memory?" Shadowheart bit her lip, motioning for Isobel to follow her back to her own tent, passing the sparring session that was happening. She vaguely noticed Wyll instructing Gale on how to control the magic he uses. Astarion looked over at them, meeting her eyes before being pulled away by Jaheira to help pack more of the camp, earning a complaint from him. She bid Isobel to wait outside, pushing in to dig through her pack before reemerging with one of the journals she had found back at the hidden altar, handing it to her fellow cleric.

"I woke up in someone's bed," Isobel raised an eyebrow at that, "I saw myself walking down a hallway, opening a door to a grand chamber before opening another door to a bedroom. I saw that symbol," she points to the symbol on the page, "It was carved into stone above the bed, two swords sticking out of it."

"Where did you get this?" Isobel asked, flipping through the journal.

"I found it, back at Reithwin. There are more journals but that's the symbol I saw in my dream," Shadowheart pointed out. "I've seen that symbol on Bella's own cloak. I can't mistake it for anything else."

"Most of the high houses reserve that for the chambers of the head of the house," Isobel replied, brows furrowing as she read the entries. "You should speak with Bella about this. And these," she held up the book.

Shadowheart groaned, Isobel patting her on the shoulder. "It might shed some light as to what happened that night. But from our conversations, Bella still has two living older sisters so you weren't successful in your attempt."

"And how am I supposed to broach this topic with her?" Shadowheart said, "I can't just casually tell her that I once tried to kill her sister." Isobel laughed, making her glare. "You are awful about this, especially for someone of your rank."

The smile on Isobel's face faltered slightly. "I don't even know if my rank is still valid at this point. Belladonna uses it out of formality and training but I've been dead over a century. That rank might be null and void, especially with my house being dissolved and disgraced. But back on topic, I'm sure Belladonna would listen, especially since its you." Isobel turned back to the book in her hand. "You say there were more of these books?"

"6 more, outside of that one," Shadowheart confirmed, "They're all in my pack."

"I have a friend, an old contact, at the Twin Songs. I think you should meet them, with Aylin and I. Would give all of us better insight as to what's been happening in the city." Isobel offered, "Would also give you time on how to broach this topic with Bella."

She thought about it. She really didn't know how to approach this with Bella. Would she be mad? She doubted it but it was family. They weren't close, Bella had already confirmed that to her multiple times. Her sisters were two centuries older than her, closer to Halsin's in age, so they had nothing in common outside who they worship. Bella was born, raised and trained post-war in Reithwin, after Isobel's own death and her sisters made sure she knew she wasn't one of them.

Isobel was the closest person she had to try and make sense of any of this, even if she didn't know what could have happened that night. Her old rank, her years of wisdom still benefitted her and this contact could help her find out what happened that night, even if it could cause more tension between her and Bella.

Shadowheart nodded at Isobel, accepting her offer and the other cleric smiled. There was a shout from Jaheira to break up the sparring and the lessons, both of them turning to see their respective partners approaching. "Best start packing, I'll speak with Bella and Aylin." Isobel said, handing back the journal to her before cutting off the two paladins. "Both of you..." she heard from Isobel as the ushered them away.

Her eyes followed a confused looking Bella before turning around to her tent to pack for the journey into the city.

She remained quiet as they followed the well worn path towards the city, keeping her head down as she her fingers idly played with the prayer beads she once used as a focus. "You can talk to me about anything you know," Bella said, walking side by side with her, Shadowheart shifting uneasily. "Especially if Shar's continuing to bother you through that wound."

"I know I can," Shadowheart replied, looking ahead of them, clenching her fist as a reflex for the phantom pain of her hand. She watched as the rest of their group marched towards the city, Karlach's excitement about being back drowning out Astarion's grumbles. "I...I just don't know how to approach this," she shifted to Celestial, knowing Lae'zel and Wyll didn't speak it. "You're right about Shar, that she's continuing to torment me through this wound but she's also restoring memories of what I've done - most of them terrible things."

"Is that why you were shaken this morning?" Bella asked, also shifting her speech to Celestial. "Why you flinched away? It was one of these memories?"

Shadowheart nodded, staring forward. Trust...She had to trust Belladonna on this. "I..." The qua'nith pinged again, making Belladonna groan as she moved forward, leaving Shadowheart for the moment. She bit her lip, listening with intent but mind still on the dream from the night before.

The battle was quick, Karlach, Aylin and Lae'zel arguing who got that last blow in, Isobel sighing beside her as they watched the rest of the group mill about, checking the fallen githyanki, Bella was with Jaheira and Wyll, too far away for them to listen but she wore a serious face on her. Isobel moved away, mildly scolding Aylin before she could raise her voice, giving away their position. "Copper for your thoughts?" Gale asked her, making her frown. Was her displeasure that evident on her face?

"I'm fine. Just distracted." She deflected, knowing it was mostly true. Gale thankfully didn't press further, being called up to the front once more, taking Wyll's side in the marching order. Bella was frowning by the time she rejoined her at the back of the group, her hands already glowing with healing as she wiped blood off her lover's face, Bella thoroughly distracted from their previous conversation. 

It was mid-afternoon by the time they reached the outskirts of Rivington, Jaheira frowning at the sight destroyed homestead after destroyed homestead they passed. The destruction wasn't normal, as if only some homes having been hit, methodically and deliberately. Bella followed Jaheira along with Karlach to one of the homes they had passed, Shadowheart a short distance away from them.

"This used to be one of my contacts, an older couple that helped the Harpers lay low if they need to be out of the city," Jaheira explained, picking up some of the rubble with a deep sigh. "Let's keep going, hopefully they made it to the city. Keep this place in mind though. Could still be useful as a camp."

The sounds of the city started to come through, Shadowheart feeling both anxious and elated at the same time. This was home, for most of them: its streets offered comfort but danger, especially here in the Outer City. Rivington came into view as they crested the top of the hill, Karlach taking a deep breath. 

"Gods I missed this!" Karlach all but yelled out, making Bella flinch beside her as they all stopped at the top of the path, Rivington just below them. "The people! The noise! I missed all of this!"

"Lots more people and Fists milling about," Astarion pointed out. Shadowheart looked beyond him, seeing the tell-tale signs of the Flaming Fist guards mulling about, patrolling and checking in on some of the people below. There was a flash of red, screaming about a thief that made some of the Fists yell out. "Still as chaotic as ever."

"What's our plan?" Wyll asked, keeping an eye out below them. There was another scream, drawing all their eyes down to the scene: a Flaming Fist appending a familiar looking man. Bella heard Jaheira curse behind her, moving forward to go to see what new trouble Volo had gotten himself into.

"Spread out to cover more ground," Bella said, "Wyll, Karlach, You're with Jaheira. Me, Astarion, Gale, Lae'zel, scout out the area that Astarion used to get out of the city, see if that's still viable." Bella turned to her, looking at Isobel and Aylin as well. "They have some business to deal with so we'll meet back up at that homestead afterwards. All of us."

There was another scream, a child cries filling the air and the shouting of more Fists as heavy footsteps gave chase to someone, Karlach's laughter filling the air as she walked away. Bella hung back briefly, waiting for the others to be out of earshot before turning to Isobel. "With all due respect, Silverstar, I still think I should go with you."

"Bella, we've been over this." Isobel said, adjusting her pack on her shoulder. "I trust this contact implicitly. He and his family have been loyal to the Moonmaiden for centuries. Have faith."

Shadowheart watched as her lover bristled. "You've been dead a century. This contact of yours could be compromised during that time. The fact you wouldn't even tell me who it is makes me wonder if they can even be trusted."

"Then it's a good thing I have back up," Isobel said nodding at her direction. "Stop worrying, Belladonna. Go with your group, find a way for all of us to cross that bridge  and let us worry about this. We'll meet you back at that camp." Belladonna was set to argue some more but Aylin put her hand on her shoulder. 

"Go, little paladin. Their safety is in my hands." Aylin commanded, small smile on her face.

Bella sighed, turning to her with a pout. She fished out a broach, one with her house's seal on it. "Any sign of trouble, show them this." She saw Isobel's eyebrows shoot up but Bella continued. "Repeat the phrase 'The owl's eyes guard the night'. They should know how to respond."

Shadowheart felt the broach pressed into her palm sting, the memory replaying in her mind. Isobel's eyebrow remained up, watching them but she said nothing. She nodded, Bella giving her a smile as she saluted Isobel and Aylin, following the rest of their group down towards their own goal.

She followed Isobel through the town, passing by the commotion of a circus and the countless of refugees that crowded the streets. Shadowheart took note of some of the gossip they were hearing, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be looking for or at her in a particular way. 

Isobel led them down a path, past the church of Illmater, the sounds of the town slowly being replaced by the sound of crashing waves. Isobel stopped, cast a sending spell once more, muttering in Elvish. Aylin's eyes were on alert, eyeing the abandoned cart and boxes littering the path down from the church. "This way," Isobel said, moving with conviction towards a headless statue nearby.

Shadowheart felt eyes on them, Aylin must have sensed it too as Isobel continued to the statue below them. "This feels like an ambush," she muttered, Aylin's brows furrowing. She looked around them, nothing in particular standing out outside of the flock of pigeons nearby. She looked up above them, noticing the balcony of the church looking down directly where they stood. "Up there. There's something coming from there." Aylin followed her gaze, the empty looking balcony not showing anyone.

She heard Isobel say something, both of them turning to see Isobel sitting down on the bench, eyes focused up to the pigeons. "Come now, you should know who I am."

"I'm staring at a ghost of the past, one supposed to be long dead... How are we supposed to know you're not lying to us!" They all heard. Shadowheart's eyes narrowed, Aylin smirking, pointing up at the pigeons nearby.

"Alfitz Puddlemuddle," Aylin called out, "Thou hast my word: This is no deception. We are not the enemy, nor did we bring any with us. Upon my mother's word," Aylin said, unhooking her sword from her back, holding it up to light up the script etched on the sword itself. "If thou needed proof, I present you *Righteous Wrath*, one of my mother's holy Moonblades."

There was a heartbeat then two before they heard a whistle. "Forgive us, my lady. It's been sometime since we've seen you. Both of you. We have to be cautious in these times." A small gnomish man appeared beside the statue, invisibility spell disapating as he waving his hand to make the flock of pigeons disappear. 

"Caution has kept the cloister alive. It's nice to see you again, Fitz," Isobel greeted, giving him a hug. Aylin gave him a smile, his eyes still cautious as it fell on her.

"Forgive my ignorance, my lady but why is there a Sharran with you?" Fitz stopped, fixing her a glare. "The Sharran attacks have escalated in the last couple of weeks, mutterings of the Shadowcurse falling, rumours of your return...It's been a lot and they have been vicious." Shadowheart frowned at the news.

"It's a long story," Isobel said, the man continuing to glare at her. A human woman joined them, heavy crossbow on her back, watching her with careful eyes. "One best not told out in the open." Isobel smiled at her. "Know that she is with us for a reason. We trust her with our lives."

"She wears the armour of their elite," Fitz pointed out, making her look down at her armour. "Antiquated as it is but it beings back many painful memories."

"How do we know she can be trusted?" A woman behind her asked, the paladin's hand twitching near her hammer. 

Shadowheart dug the broach out of her pocket, showing it to them. The seal of House Alenthiel felt heavy in her hands, Bella trusting it to her, knowing the power it holds within the church. "I'm here on behalf of Belladonna, of House Alenthiel, . I mean no harm to any of you." She said, the glares intensifying. "The owl's eyes guard the night."

"And the moonlight guides the way home," the woman replied, confused. "You know their words..."

"Arryn," Fitz called out. "Can you verify this broach? Is it really Belladonna's?"

They heard a grunt from below, a hand coming up the overgrown roots, a person coming into view, Shadowheart having to do a double take. The person in front of them had the same complexion, nearly the same hair colour - though Bella's was definitely lighter - and same build as her lover. There was a playfulness in their purple eyes but a familiar stewing fury she's now recognized from travelling with Bella. 

Arryn moved to stand over her, palm out asking for the broach. Shadowheart hesitated but placed the it on their hand, eyes immediately flaring with magic as they inspected the broach. "It's Belladonna's. Her personal one." Arryn looked her over, still holding on to the broach as they tilted their head in confusion. "How do you have my cousin's broach?"

"Cousin?" Shadowheart asked, eyes moving between Arryn and Isobel. "Bella's your cousin?"

"Bella is it?" There was mirth in her question. "This broach holds significance in our families, in her mother's side of the family in particular." Arryn held it up in front of her, watching her, "Explain yourself, Sharran. Otherwise, we have means on getting it out of you."

Shadowheart glared, opening her mouth to defend herself but Isobel beat her to it. "Belladonna is gave it to her willingly. Gave the words to her willingly. I was there as witness, as was Aylin. You know the glyphs that bind those, Arryn, so you can cut the theatrics. It's unbecoming of you."

Arryn's eyes narrowed, giving her one more look over before a knowing grin graced their face. "If that's the case then, Silverstar, then this is must all be an interesting story." Isobel rolled her eyes. "Does she know? Did Nona not tell her what this is?"

"No," Isobel said, an amused smile now on her own face. "I was going to have you explain it to her."

Arryn let out a laugh. "Of course she wouldn't explain it to you. Typical Nona," They held the broach out, grinning from ear to ear. "This..." they said wagging the broach. "This is used to signify a long term commitment, amongst the clergy. It's not given out lightly, especially one from the guardian houses." Arryn placed the broach back in her hand, grin still on her face. Shadowheart felt herself blush, now acutely aware of all the eyes on her. 

"To have you, a Sharran, bound to this half is...very interesting turn of events." They let out another laugh, the other two Selûnite far less amused by the tall sun-kissed elf in front of them.

"Former Sharran," Aylin corrected them. "She has take the rites, spoken to by my very own mother to help with this Absolute, chosen by her along with your valiant cousin to be her champions in this fight."

"Has she now?" Arryn laughed even more. "A former Sharran, and my cousin, chosens of Selûne? Oh gods, if it wasn't coming from you, my lady, I wouldn't have believed you." Arryn wiped some tears forming from their laughter. "Let's go find my cousin. She has a lot of explaining to do."

Chapter Text

10 Eleasias - 10 days prior to abduction

Bella groaned as she sat up on the hospital bed, noticing the aforementioned missive on top of her tabard. Arryn had told her about it already: Elturel. She was to go to find out what happened to the city that disappeared. She sighed, stretching her arms behind her back as she looked outside to the streets of Waterdeep.

The Shieldmeet was over and whatever was brewing here, wasn't officially her problem anymore. She felt her side, wound still tender from the acid dagger she was stabbed with, making her frown. Her body had recovered already, but something felt off. She couldn't place it but her eyes lingered on the scroll on top her armour.

"Sorry," she heard as the curtain slid over. The nurse, Gwyn, smiled at her, Belladonna giving her a smile back. "Your cousin is here for you, signed off on your discharge. You're able to leave."

"Does that mean I'm no longer your ward?" Belladonna asked, standing to tower over the fair-haired nurse. "Might not get another chance to treat you to dinner."

"If it's your treat," Gwyn replied, stepping closer. "Then who am I to say no? You could walk me home later."

"Would be delighted to. Especially if I'm able to properly thank you, for taking good care of me," A blush crept up on the woman's face, Belladonna tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

"Stop hitting on the nurses," she heard as her cousin came into view, Arryn shaking their head before bowing to Gwyn. "Thank you, for taking care of this idiot."*

"She was a perfect patient," Gwyn said, giving them both a bow, eyes lingering on Belladonna before leaving. Arryn turned to glare at her, Belladonna's smile not faltering.*

"Seriously?" Bella shrugged, Arryn groaning. "What am I supposed to tell my dad?" Arryn asked. "Your sisters?"*

"That I get discharged tomorrow," Belladonna said, moving to don her armor, Arryn gritting their teeth. "What's one more day, cousin? If I'm supposed to do what ever this is," she lifted the missive. "Then let me have one more night of fun before getting back at it."

"Nona, think about this, for once, please." Arryn lifted the scroll, showing the seal on it. "This is from the council themselves. This is serious. You heard what happened to Elturel. And they're sending you and your team to investigate? And only your team? You need to take this seriously, Belladonna"

"All the more reason to let me have tonight." Belladonna stared into her cousin's purple eyes. She smiled at them, Arryn glaring at her. "Merrick is one of the best shots in Neverwinter let alone most of the northern coast. Isla is on her way to becoming a Silverstar before you," Arryn growled at that. "We'll be fine. I'm sure Merrick and Isla would appreciate one more night here. I promise you, we'll leave first thing tomorrow."

"I hate you sometimes," Arryn sighed. "One night. Just tonight. I swear, Nona..."

"All I need." Belladonna said. "Did I ever tell you you're the best cousin ever?"*

"I'm your only cousin!"

"Therefore the best." Belladonna reasoned. "And you don't hate me. Who else would keep you on your toes?"

"I'd have so much peace...." Arryn shook their head, handing Belladonna her broaches back. "Be careful."

"Come on, Rynryn? What's the worst that could happen?"

Bella followed Astarion through the streets, keeping a watchful eye when it came to the many refugees that now littered the area. It reminded her of the areas affected by the ruining back in Neverwinter, during her time with the city's watch. What felt like a lifetime ago now. 

She felt a shiver run down her spine, looking around them to see if anyone was paying attention to them as they headed towards the edge of the town, passing the small field where people were casually having a picnic, ignoring the other noises of the surroundings.

Astarion led to the cliff edges, jumping down to the small ledges, waiting for them to follow. Gale looked over at her, looking around them as he cast a disguise on himself, making him out to be an older human man, sitting down on the rock by the ledge. "I'll be look out. Go."

Bella nodded as she followed a now human looking Astarion to a different part of the cliff edges, pointing above to a small ledge peaking out from the side of the bridge. "Up there. That's how I got down and out."

Bella looked up, preparing herself by pressing her back against the stone of the bridge, fingers interlaced, Lae'zel taking the hint. Lae'zel backed up, coming to her in a sprint, Bella tossing her up easily to hold onto the ledge. Bella heard her grunt, shoving something away before disappearing. "I can't believe I'm willingly coming back here!"

"Cazador will not get his hands on you, we won't let him," Bella reassured him, making him huff. 

"You don't know him like I do, Belladonna." There was genuine fear in his voice, eyes darting around. "He's a cruel master that would do anything to get his way. I wouldn't doubt that he's already heard that I'm here, that I'm..."

"He doesn't know us," Bella stated, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You have all of us behind you, Astarion. We will move the heavens for you, if it came down to it. We will make sure whatever plans he has for you, for that symbol on your back, that won't come to fruition. I promise you that."

"I want to believe you, I do," Astarion sighed, eyes looking above them before going across the river. "I don't want to see any of you hurt. Not even Gale."

There was a whistle from Gale, making them flatten themselves against the stone of the bridge, a patrol of guards walking above them. Another whistle and Bella let out sigh of relief. 

"Gale cares about you, more than he lets on," Bella said, "He's been researching a particular cloak, it's a long shot but it might let you walk in the sun, even after the worm is out of your head. That's after the battle though. When it comes to Cazador, leave it to us. We'll find him before he finds us. We'll strike him down before he can even realize what's happening. But we need you and your expertise of the city for any of it to work." Astarion pursed his lips but nodded, Bella pulling him in for a hug. "You're one of us, Astarion. We wont let him hurt you."

"Alley is clear. It leads to a covered area and the walkway leads to the main part of the bridge." Lae'zel reported back, jumping down from above them. "It is a way around the idiotic guards without honour."

"Well?" Gale asked, joining them on the cliffs, "Shall we explore the area further, find out that's happening at the church or --" a loud explosion rang out from above them, followed by a scream and a large thud, people scrambling down the side streets. They all leaned against the wall, hearing the guards above yell above about the fallen Steelwatcher. Bella watched as the crowd continued to run when two familiar looking gnomes broke away, coming close to where they were, Belladonna catching Philomeen's eyes. 

"Is that?" Gale whispered, his eyes fixed on the woman before them, eyes narrowing at them all in recognition.

"Philomeen of the Ironhands," Bella confirmed, pushing herself off the wall, keeping her eyes on Philomeen. The gnome's eyes darted around, motioning to for them to follow as they disappeared into a small cave opening, Bella looking back at her group. 

"That was runepowder they had, do you think that was..." Gale trailed off, eyes going above them. 

"That was them," Astarion said. "That Wulbren pontificated enough about their plans, I'm surprised the Fists didn't arrest them already. I assume that was just the opening strike."

Bella breathed in deep. Unchecked, the Ironhands could spell disaster for the city. Wulbren was far too eager to seek revenge, not listening to Barcus at all. She knew little of the city politics, beyond what Wyll and Astarion was able to give them and what Jaheira was privy to. She sighed, looking above them to the alley and back to the cave entrance. 

They had no time for this but the guardian was right about one thing: They would need allies. Maybe they could be a start.

"Keryvian," Astarion said, making her turn towards him. "As they say: An enemy of my enemy is a friend." 

She sighed, "Let's find out what they've been up to, see if they have any insight as to what's been happening in the city. If not, then we can maybe leverage them for the upcoming fight with what they want."

"You're going to be playing with fire, Bella" Gale reminded her but nodded. "Let's hope they're up for talking."

"Well..." Gale said, dusting off his shirt. "I'll say this much: I'm happy I haven't been fully at the other end of your anger. You certainly have a way with words."

"A more favourable path," Lae'zel commented, following Bella, lifting the bag further up her shoulder. "Although one more word out of that Wulbren, and I would have gutted him myself."

"Oh we cannot cross the main bridge for sure now," Astarion said. "Not with that thing."

"We'll find a way across, even if it's hiring some boat to get us into the city proper," Bella said, Astarion grimacing at the prospect of another boat ride. They followed her wordlessly, ignoring the paper boys shouting the latest headlines when she felt someone bump into her. She heard them mumble something, feeling one of her pouches gone from her side and she growled. "Come back here!"

The figure broke into a sprint, Belladonna running right after them, the rest of her group trailing behind her. The thief looked back at her with familiar eyes under their hood and mask, making Bella hesitate for a split second before sprinting up towards the fields. Bella groaned, running after them, through the fields until she was by the windmill, the thief slipping inside.

"Stay here, guard the door. If something comes from above, shoot it." Bella said, taking out her dagger, following the thief inside. The smell of musty grain permeated the mill, some of the sunlight coming through the small windows, but not enough to illuminate. Bella's eyes adjusted to the low light, ears listening as she crept about, noticing the open latch of the granary. "I mean you no harm. Give me back my gold and we can maybe come to an agreement."

There was no response, Belladonna sighing as she looked down to the darkness below, soft torchlight coming from the far side of the room. She slid down the ladder, swapping her dagger for her sword, when she heard shuffling and magic dissipating from around the corner. She gulped, readying herself as she came around the shelf, coming face to face with Silfy and a familiar set of purple eyes in Selûnite robes.

"Hello, cousin!" The voice of her cousin made her groan audibly, Arryn grinning at her. "You've been busy."

"Arryn," Bella greeted, eyes narrowing. "Why are you using a refugee child to pickpocket me?"

"Ah, not my plan," Arryn said, still grinning at her as she tossed her gold pouch back. "It was hers." They pointed down to Silfy. "Apparently she knows you. And your girlfriend too."

Belladonna stiffened. "How do you..." Her mind raced back to the earlier conversation with Isobel, cursing herself when she didn't put two and two together. "You're Isobel's contact."

"Technically, Dad is. I'm just the one he sent out," Arryn shrugged. "Oh yeah," The blow to her face was unexpected, making her head spin and throwing her off balance before she was pulled into a tight hug. "Don't fucking disappear on me again!"

"Didn't think you'd care. I'd be out of your hair after all."

"Fuck you, Nona."

"Missed you too, Rynryn." Bella held onto her cousin tighter. "Missed you too."

Belladonna dunked another plate into the soapy water, scrubbing it idly as she looked around at the rest of the camp. Jaheira had managed to get all of them passage across the bridge but not fully, making a promise to a "Valeria" to help them with something. Not even Wyll could get them across into the city proper, bridge to Wrym's Rock being closed for some sort of festivities.

"It seems like we're stuck here, at least for the next few nights. Might as well get comfy." Wyll said, helping her with the dishes. "Could use that time to gather intel, relax a bit more or find another way in, if we want to risk it."

"We shouldn't bring more attention to ourselves that we need to. We already attract enough," Bella said, handing him another plate to dry. "Especially since we have that now."

"Ah yes, the explosive that could level a city block," Wyll said, frowning at the thought. "We're not going to use it, right?"

"Unless we're forced to, it's staying safe in that pocket dimension." Bella said, scrubbing the next plate. 

"And your cousin can't help get us across?" Wyll asked, nodding to where Arryn was, still talking with Isobel and Aylin. Shadowheart was with them taking in the information that was given.

"I don't them involved in any of this, not if I can help it." Bella said, keeping her eyes on her fellow Selûnites. "They're the only family I like. Her and her dad."

"That might not be your call," Wyll reminded her, making her pout. "They look like a capable fighter and healer. That war hammer looks like it could do damage. We need all the help we could get."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Bella admitted. "My order is about doing anything it takes to see through things to the end. No matter what the cost is. How is that different from what the Absolute wants? I..." she looked over to meet Shadowheart's gaze, her lover smiling at her. "If Isobel is going to call the guardian houses of the moon down, it would bring eyes on not only us but the Church of Selûne. Imagine how that would play out, in a city not known for worshipping her?"

Wyll sighed, "I see your point. But what allies we have, might not be enough. I know your reservations is about protecting the child of the goddess you serve but Aylin is our best hope against the Absolute right now."

"Then we need to find more allies, ones who also know what we're up against. What happened to Jaheira's contact?" Bella asked, dunking another bowl into the water.

"Compromised. They have shapeshifters in their ranks now. We need to be more cautious than ever before." Bella cursed under her breath. "I know you don't ever want to entertain it but we might have to revisit Raphael and his offer."

"No. I am not dealing with any more devils outside of Mizora. And that's only because of you." Bella replied, handing Wyll the plate. "The less I have to deal with the infernal, the better. My oath is being pushed as it is with Mizora."

"It's not the most ideal circumstance but he is right, to a certain degree: It's better to deal with a devil you know that a devil you don't know. Hear what he has to say at least. We know where he is now." Bella raised an inquisitive eyebrow at him, "Right, we forgot to tell you that. After the debacle with the Harpers, Jaheira and Karlach wanted some food. Apparently, the High Harper is good friends with the owner of Sharess Caress."

"The brothel?" Bella whipped her head to see where Jaheira was, calmly reading a book by her tent. "She took you both to the local brothel."

"Food was fantastic. Sauceman Chirizo really knows his stuff. But back to the matter, we were approached by Raphael's assistant, Korrilla. Found Voss in there too. Raphael has something that Voss wants. He wouldn't talk to just us, but he's interested in speaking to you." Wyll explained, "He's apparently one of the most popular guest, no doubt charming his way to the unknowing guests. We're going to have to start making some concessions, Bella."

"We shouldn't have to. But I'll think about it, just don't tell Lae'zel just yet. I don't want her and Karlach at each other's necks. We don't need that right now."

"Fair enough." Wyll confirmed. "I'll try to find out more once we're in the city proper. The councilor should have more information for us and if anything, she might be able to help us get a footing once we're in the city."

"There's still somethings that don't make sense but one step at a time." Wyll nodded, Bella finishing up the last of the dishes with him before heading over to Shadowheart's tent, their shared tent now, to sift through at the stack of papers Jaheria and Gale had left her.

Rumours from all around the town, mostly from the refugees they had helped giving them insight as to what they knew. She looked over the map of Rivington and the first half of the Crossing Jaheira had given her, marking the areas and smiling at the new story Mirkon had made about them. The rumour about a brewing gang war made her side stinging, Bellla noting the factions at play: The Guild and the Stonelord. She knew the Zhentarim were in town and were part of the Absolute's forces but could also be at play with this gang war. They wouldn't pass on this. She looked over the map, making a note to check in with Jaheira about the rumour as she moved onto the next one. Mentions of monster hunters, about kobolds raiding the sewers and more and more disappearances. She wondered if it was just the Absolute or if...

"Already working again?" she heard from behind her, looking up at Shadowheart. "Please rest, you don't need to go through this all today."

"I know, but I don't have your report yet," Bella smiled up at her, shifting over to allow her to sit by the table. "How was your first day as a full fledged Selûnite?"

"Tease as much as you want, I think I did rather well," Shadowheart replied, sitting beside her. "After the initial awkwardness and getting blindsided by your lookalike of a cousin, it was fine. You didn't tell me you had family here in the city."

"Too many things in my mind, mostly you," Bella said, pulling her hand up to kiss it.

"Flatterer," Shadowheart said, turning to kiss her on the cheek. Bella listened to her as she recounted what had happened with them: the meet up, their walk to the outskirts of the town to help with the refugees where they met up with the young Mattis and Silfy, Silfy offering her services to Arryn to 'help' get her attention. 

The Selûnite Enclave have been helping with what they could, although they were still being cautious since there was another abduction amongst their ranks. "Fitz doesn't trust me. I know Helena doesn't either. Arryn on the other hand..." Shadowheart put the broach on the table. "Care to explain?"

"It's a family broach," Bella said, picking it up. "It's part of a pair: a primary bound to me and a secondary." She looked at the broach, tracing a finger against the relief of her family crest, "If the secondary is given to someone, both sides would know whether the other bearer is safe and allows for some temporary healing. Most importantly, it's a sign of the noble house it's tied to and the influence they have."

"Is that all?" Shadowheart asked, leaning into her. "Arryn has told me there was something else."

"When given with the house's words, it's considered a sign of long term commitment. It can't be undone without exception from the head of the house." Silence hung over them Bella just looking at the broach, shaking a painful memory out of her head before setting it back down on the table. "I wanted to give it back to you even back before we left the Grymforge. But with everything that had happened..."

Shadowheart leaned up to kiss her, Bella returning it before Shadowheart pulled away. Bella blinked before remembering they weren't inside their tent. Not yet. "I love you," Shadowheart said. "If that wasn't evident enough."

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Bella replied, "Now, if we can only find time for just ourselves."

"You did say we're here for the next couple of days. I'm sure we can find time to sneak away." Shadowheart suggested, Bella turning to kiss her on the top of the head. She heard heavy footsteps coming towards them, making her turn and look up, Arryn coming around the corner. "Cousin..."

"Can I borrow her for a minute?" Arryn asked Shadowheart, Bella rolling her eyes as she pried herself away, standing up. "It won't be for long. I just need a quick word."

"I'll clean these up and and add my report to it. Don't keep her too long. I won't be able to save her spot forever against the pets." Shadowheart said, leaning against the table with a smile. "and Arryn?" Arryn raised an eyebrow at her lover. "Never hit her face. It's her best feature."

Arryn broke into a fit of laughter. "Oh! I understand why you like her now. She bullies you! You've always liked women that could bully you."

It was Shadowheart's turn to laugh, touching her nose as Bella groaned, "I don't like the fact that you've just met and are already conspiring against me." Belladonna followed Arryn down towards the far end of the camp, overlooking the small stream that ran behind the camp. 

"You've changed, Nona..."

"Kinda hard not to...especially since...you know," Belladonna pointed at her skull. She picked up a rock, throwing it idly up and down as she took in their surroundings. The destruction left by the Absolute was evident. She sighed. "Bet you're wondering why I'm quieter than normal."

"Was going to ask but I know you by now," they said, leaning against the tree. "I know when you're actually thinking about things. It's rare, but it's one of your better traits.

Bella let out a soft chuckle, throwing the rock as far as she could, seeing it land in the small stream below them. She felt Arryn watching her carefully, Bella feeling uneasy under her cousin's gaze. She has never able to lie to Arryn, her cousin being one of the most insightful people she knew. Arryn was her closest confident, covering for her when she needed them to in exchange of getting Arryn more out of their shell. She looked up, seeing the moon hidden behind the clouds.

"When we landed after getting abducted at Yartar, we came upon Moonhaven. By then, we'd had the worms for a couple of days, without changing into a Mindflayer. We knew something was wrong but we held out hope that Halsin, the archdruid, would be able to help us. When we at Moonhaven, I saw what happened at the temple there. A pack of goblins took it over for the Absolute. I saw first hand how cruel they were - what they are willing to do for this Absolute. Then, I saw the Shadow Cursed Lands for myself. Saw the death Ketheric and Shar brought to the land. What our parents had to fight in. Saw the type of blade that gave my mother her scar. I saw with my own eyes what vengeance does to a man, how it was able to corrupt him: mind, body, and soul. It scared me, Arryn. I learned then that I can't keep living with the anger my mother bred into me. I don't want to end up like him. Like her." 

Arryn looked up at the sky, night now overtaking the setting sun. "I can't help you with what's happened but I'm here now. I'm sorry I wasn't there with you."

"I wouldn't have wanted you there. Not after what I've seen." Bella admitted, bending down to pick up another rock. "But I'm truly happy you're here and you're safe. And I need you and the rest of the order to stay that way."

"You need our help. Our order can help. The guardian houses can -"

"No! Arryn..." Bella stopped herself from yelling. "We can't bring down the guardian houses of the moon to Baldur's Gate. This isn't their fight. How would the other joint orders feel? We're spread thin enough as it is. We're still recovering from Waterdeep. We still have Neverwinter to worry about. God knows what's even happening in Athkala right now."

"But you dont have to face this alone! You're not obligated to sacrifice yourself for this! This wasn't your mission!"

"I already have!" Bella shouted, taking Arryn aback. "I've already died and Selune herself brought me back." Belladonna pointed back towards the camp. "Whatever my mission was before this, doesn't matter anymore! They do! They matter! I've made them all the same promise: to find us a cure for the worms inside us. I've fought beside each and every one of them, Arryn. We've seen things few can only imagine and have done the extraordinary. They're family to me now. And you know I don't turn my back on family. Even..." Belladonna composed herself once more. "I can't imagine what will happen after all of this is done but I know, I will do anything to make sure every one of them get to end and beyond it."

Arryn pushed themself off the tree, "And her?"

"What about her?"

"You're not an idiot, Nona. That woman is a Sharran. Ex Sharran but still was one." Arryn challenged, Bella gritting her teeth. "You weren't there but I'm fairly certain she matches the description of the Sharran that tried to kill your sister." Arryn sighed. "You've known only her for weeks, Belladonna. How can you be so sure?"

"I just do." Bella whipped the rock in her hand out towards a tree across the stream. "She was a Sharran in name but not in her heart. She's one of our lost. There's something about her that's..." she paused, heavily sighing. "While I should care if she's the one who tried to kill Baetica, I'll be honest, Ryn, I don't. You know the type of person Baetica is. She's made enough enemies that I'm sure Shadowheart wasn't the first and she wouldn't be the last. Besides, I've tried to kill her enough times myself so it's even." Arryn opened their mouth to ask but shook their head instead.

"She's the key to all of this, Arryn. Selûne allows us as much freedom as she allows, but you of all people know that when she wants her pieces to move, they move with purpose." Bella finished, Arryn patting her shoulder. "And I don't care if the rest of the family disowned me for it. I'm staying with her, no matter what."

"How much of that did you practice beforehand?" They asked with a grin, Bella shoving her.

"Fuck you, that wasn't rehearsed." Arryn laughed, reaching up to Bella's hair to ruffle it. "Lay off!"

"Gods she must really be something to have changed you this much in this little time." Arryn looked her up and down before looking back towards the camp. "You really love her, don't you?"

"More than you know."

They gave them a smile. "Well then, guess that solves that. Now, how can we help with this?"

"Convince Isobel from calling on the great houses. That can't come to fruition." Bella said. "Stay alert and if you can, start moving some people somewhere safer. There's a war coming, Arryn. Something massive and we don't know how many people they've already infected within the city let alone the city's ranks. The more people out of it, the less possible casualties."

"You've been playing lanceboard with your wizard, haven't you? You're thinking 3 steps head." Arryn chuckled, crossing her arms. "Isobel said you're able to feel others who are infected? How?"

"The wee one squirms when others are close." Bella pointed to her head once more. "We have some in tact specimens. We can give you some to weed out any infiltrators."

Arryn nodded, eyes still on her but their smile was the same smile they've always given to them. "Not sure if I like this new you yet. Commanding, firm and selfless. It's weird."

"Piss off."

"I can write you up for insubordination, you know." Arryn grinned at her. "I still outrank you, Moon Knight."

"Fine," Belladonna rolled her eyes. "Respectfully, High Cleric, fuck off."

"There's my shithead of a cousin."

Chapter Text

Belladonna woke from her trance with a small groan, feeling the heaviness of Augustus and Scratch at her feet and Shadowheart on her arm. They had two days, maybe more, of waiting around. This has to be a ploy, she thought. Keeping people here, creating a funnel through to the city, allowing more of Absolute's forces to slip in unnoticed once the gates do open. 

She shifted, seeing Scratch lift his head up, looking at her and Shadowheart before putting his head back down to sleep, knowing that there was still at least another hour before Shadowheart gets up. She looked over to her lover's sleeping form, mouth slightly open as she breathed in and out softly. 

Was she her sister's would be assassin all those years ago? She wasn't there for the incident, having been stationed out of the city at the time. She did remember the panic that had set in afterwards: Baetica had only been the house leader for a couple of years, Hyrcania already married to House Silverspear so she couldn't take over. With her being disowned earlier by Baetica...

She brushed a stray piece of hair off Shadowheart's face, thinking of the day she was summoned back, trying to remember the description of the woman who attacked her dear sister. 

Dark haired, half elven with green eyes. Slender build and a scar on her face.

She sighed. It could be Shadowheart but it could also be any number of people. Baetica hasn't been the most well liked Alenthiel and her zealotry has made her some powerful enemies, even within the church. Belladonna looked down as Shadowheart turned around, mess of silver-white hair pooling around her arm, blocking her face now. If she was the one who tried to kill Baetica, it would make them even, she thought.

Shadowheart groaned, readjusting herself to be more comfortable, pulling Bella's arm closer along with the blanket, making her smile. They had a long day ahead of them - more relaxed than before but still, a long day. 

If they were to be stuck at this side of the bridge, they might be able to catch up with some of the refugees still on this side. Wyll had said that Bex and Danis were around the same barn that the enclave was helping with. Karlach seemed enthusiastic about the circus, although no one else seemed too keen to visit. They could always circumvent the guards by using the way Astarion used to get out, check in with Voss and Raphael. The thought of seeing the devil again made her frown. Maybe Wyll was right. Maybe they should consider his deal, if it will help them in the long run. Maybe...

"I can feel you thinking," she heard from beside her, making her chuckle.

"Just planning the day," She turned slightly to kiss Shadowheart's shoulder, feeling her smile into her arm. "You still have a bit of time. Go back to sleep."

Shadowheart turned in her embrace, looking up at her with sleepy eyes, "Even if I do, you'd still be overthinking. Out with it then. Tell me what's bothering you."

Bella brushed a stray piece of fur off her cheek, kissing the top of Shadowheart's brow. "Just thinking planning the day and about the past. About Neverwinter and my sisters."

"A nightmare?" Shadowheart asked, Bella shaking her head.

"Event - Arryn brought it up actually. It was a decade or so, maybe less - an assassin broke into our manor, nearly killing my oldest half-sister, Baetica. Slipped out before she could be caught." Bella reminisced, remembering the panicked sending spell she had received while chasing down a thief down the coast at Port Llast. "Prompted my other sister to reinstate me back to the house since neither of them had heirs." She felt Shadowheart stiffen under her, making her move back slightly. "What's wrong?"

"Yesterday...when you found me and I flinched away," Shadowheart gulped, moving further away to sit up and hug herself. "It wasn't a nightmare - Shar restored a memory to me. One where I saw myself in a hall, dead of night, creeping about until I found a bed chamber. Your house crest was prominent in my dream. I'm fairly certain that assassin was me."

Belladonna blinked, trying to process what was being said. "You were..." Shadowheart just nodded. Bella let out a small chuckle. This was ironic. "You're serious? Right?"

"I saw your house crest above the bed, Bella. I know what it looks like by now. Shar showed me breaking a vial of poison onto the dagger. I'm certain of this." The confession only made Bella laugh harder, pulling in the confused cleric for a hug. "Why is this funny to you? I nearly killed your sister!"

"I know I should be upset. That I should want to get vengeance for what was done but do you know something?" Shadowheart looked up at her puzzled as she pulled away from her. "Before you woke up, I reasoned with myself that the amount of times I've tried to kill you on this adventure was enough of payback. I was unsuccessful at my attempts so it's fitting, really. OW!"

"You can't treat this as a joke Bella!" Shadowheart reprimanded, hitting her on the shoulder. "This is serious."

"I can't take it seriously either. Shar thinks this will drive a wedge between us but she forgets that you failed to kill my sister. She's still up in there, training more recruits and being a pain in every Lord of Neverwinter's behind." Bella lifted her chin to place a kiss on her lips. "I would be lying if I say I'm upset since I'm not. Truthfully, if I didn't care about it back then, why would I care about it now? Arryn knows how I feel about my sisters. It's not a secret to anyone in the Church of Selune how they feel about me. We're fine. You're fine."

"You and your family are weird." Shadowheart commented, making Bella chuckle.

"All families are weird. Look at our merry crew," Bella pointed out, counting on her fingers. "We have a wizard with a bomb in his chest, a vampire that's part of set of some sort of ritual, a tiefling with the biggest heart who doesn't actually have a literal heart, 2 warriors that have two separate goddess upset with them, 3 Selûnites who have all died in someway shape or form, then Jaheira and Wyll. Oh and Halsin when he gets here."

Shadowheart rolled her eyes at her. "Oh yes, Wyll - the boy who's soul bound to a devil. The only normal ones are Jaheira and Halsin. Why is that the case?"

Bella grinned at her, "You can say they're more grounded. Get it? Grounded?" She watched as Shadowheart suppressed a laugh, smacking her on the arm. "It's a good joke!"

"Gods and I'm willingly with you, for better or worse. Why did I do this to myself?" She laughed, Bella now hovering close to her face. "How did I end up falling for you, with your awful jokes?"

"It's my charmingly good looks," Shadowheart hummed, pulling her down to kiss her. Belladonna slipped her hand behind Shadowheart, squeezing her ample backside. Shadowheart growled, pulling her down more to deepen the kiss, rolling them so that she was below. Bella pulled away, panting as her eyes roamed the woman above her. "You're beautiful," She whispered as her hands moved to Shadowheart's hips, touching the soft skin underneath the sleep clothes. 

She could see the lust in Shadowheart's eyes, her hands venturing further up under the shirt before she was stopped. Shadowheart took her right hand, bringing it up in front of her, close to the hem of her pants, keeping her eyes on her as she guided them further in. Bella bit her lower lip as her fingers brushing against Shadowheart's mound, flicking it to make her lover moan, feeling her heart race faster.

Instinct took over as she sat up, capturing Shadowheart's lips in hers as her fingers continued to tease, kisses eventually giving way to Shadowheart's pants as she could feel her lover getting wetter under the touch. "More...Harder." The command came, Bella redoubling her efforts as she pushed a finger into her love, adding a second one with ease, as she littered kisses and love bites down on Shadowheart's neck. She could feel Shadowheart's pulse race, her grip getting tighter around her hand as she ground herself onto her fingers. "Close...so close...Bella.."

Bella captured her lips to drown the scream as she felt Shadowheart come undone, pushing her down gently as she guided her through her climax and the aftershocks. Both of them were heavily panting, clothes sticking to both as sweat had made them cling to their skin. Shadowheart brought up a hand to touch her face, brushing her lips as she guided her hand out of her, making her lover shudder and frown at the loss. She brought her fingers up to her lips to taste them, giving them a lick before kissing Shadowheart softly once more. "Good?"

"More please." Shadowheart said with a smile. "Lots more. I want to taste you."

"Maybe another time. We really should get up now," Bella reminded her. "We'll find time, I promise."

"Urgh fine," Shadowheart pouted, brushing stray hairs that now clung to her face. "Where are we going today anyways?"

"After a much needed bath in the river," Bella said, wiggling her eyebrows, "the brothel."

"Sorry what? Why?" Shadowheart glared at her, lifting herself up. "After that, you already want to hit up a brothel?"

"Not like that, unless...." Shadowheart smacked her, Bella laughing at the hit. "No really, we're going for business, not pleasure. Raphael wants to speak with us, and he's holed up in the brothel on the bridge."

"Sharess Caress. Even I remember that place," Shadowheart said. "Food is fantastic, despite being... you know." Bella couldn't help but laugh. 

"That's what Wyll said too. Jaheira took them there after dealing with her problems with the Harpers. But if Raphael wants to talk, it can't be good." Bella said. "He seems to have something Voss wants, which means that we actually have to listen to that charlatan if we want to help Lae'zel with...you know who. Which means he's there too, as well as this Valeria contact Jaheira has."

"Popular place, in more ways that one, it seems," Shadowheart teased. "Fine, let's get the day started," She leaned up to kiss Bella on the cheek. "And by the way, I'm going to want that every morning from now on."

"Demanding little princess, aren't you?" Bella teased, earning a smile.

Shadowheart stuck out her tongue at her. "You love me."

"I do. I really do."

Shadowheart groaned, Bella already nowhere to be seen but the telling smiles on her friends meant danger for her. She couldn't hide behind Bella on this one.

Not that it would help either of them right now.

"Look," Karlach started, Shadowheart feeling herself blush already. "In our defense, Bella waking up is like clockwork. When that didn't happen today and the pets left your tent without you in tow..." Karlach waved their hand around. "I was sent to check and..."

"What she means to say, is thank you. For winning me the bet," Isobel said with a grin, leaning against Karlach. She glared at her fellow cleric, face burning as Isobel laughed. "Oh come on now! Surely you both knew there was a bet going?"

"While I should be upset that I lost money on this, I am also quiet amused by it," Astarion chirped in, propping himself on shoulder. "Look how red you are! Even your ear tips are so red!"

"Alright you two, enough," Jaheira said, walking over with the pets in tow. "Give Shadowheart some space to breathe, especially after that rousing performance." Shadowheart bit her lower lip, glaring at the High Harper who was wearing a shit-eating grin. "Sorry, cant help myself."

"Okay okay, away with all of you," Karlach said. "Sorry, really. I didn't know."

"It's fine." Shadowheart said, rubbing the back of her neck. Was it too late to turn back to Shar to forget this happened? She wondered.

"Sounded more than fine if you ask me," Isobel wiggled her eyebrows at her. 

"Isobel!" Karlach admonished, earning a laugh from Astarion and Jaheira.

"What? It was perfectly serviceable for an early morning -"

"Okay! Aylin, please grab your wife before Shadowheart casts inflict wounds on her or something," Karlach yelled out, Aylin looking down at them as she and Lae'zel paused their mid-air battle, Lae'zel shaking her head. "Aylin please! Control your wife. She's being a menace." Karlach asked as they pulled Astarion away, wrapping their hands on his mouth as he struggled in the tiefling's grasp.

"Next time, cast silence," Jaheira winked at her as she walked away with a laugh, Shadowheart shaking her head to escape to the little spot that they had designated to be their bathing area down by the stream. She passed Wyll and Gale as they came up, Gale blushing red as they passed. 

"I didn't hear anything!" he defended himself, "But thank you for winning me half the pot."

Wyll laughed, patting her on the shoulder, just shaking his head. "Enough guys," they all turned to see Bella coming up the path, blush also prominent on her tanned skin as she dried her hair off. "Seriously, its not a big deal."

"I'm just surprised that neither of you found out about the bet. Or that Aylin didn't spill the beans," Wyll said, giving Belladonna a playful punch on the shoulder.

"Under threat, was the aasimar from her wife and the High Harper herself," Lae'zel said, landing up the path. "Congratulations on your copulations, although both of your skills are lacking in -"

"Lae'zel..." Belladonna growled out, her fellow paladin stopping. "Please don't."

"I was merely observing. If you would like, I can instruct you on how -"

"I'm not listening!" Shadowheart shouted, covering her ears as she brushed past everyone to get to the stream, hearing the Lae'zel's voice fade as she followed the path down to freshen herself up. Shadowheart looked at her reflection in the still water, seeing her own reflection blushing red before stripping herself bare to begin washing herself.

She remembered Bella inside her, nipping at the base of her neck, biting her lip at the recent memory before she felt the all too familiar sting of the incurable wound, Shar's ever reminder that she was still there, watching.

Shadowheart looked up at the morning sky, the moon named after her new goddess now fading in the light of the sun. She was tired of it all - the pain, the unfeeling that was ingrained into her and most of all the guilt of it all. The guilt she felt when she would laugh at Isobel and Astarion's jokes. The guilt she felt when she should be happy when she took care of the camp animals. How guilty she felt every morning waking up in Bella's arms. She was done with it. She looked down, seeing her reflection again in the water, hair now silvery white. "No more," she told her reflection. "No more guilt. No more shame. Time to let that go. Time to start a new, for my own self."

She finished her wash, drying herself quickly as she made her way back up towards the camp, most of it already taken down for the day. "So," Bella said as she approached their tent. "Care to go to the circus?"

"I have no recollection of ever being to one. Why? I thought we had business to attend to at the brothel." Bella shrugged at her, letting her enter their tent to change but continued to talk to her beyond it.

"Karlach seemed eager to go. Astarion thinks he can win at all the games of chance and Gale actually knows the ring master. They're old friends. Thought we could have a longer break before tackling whatever mess Voss and Raphael want to throw us into."

"By visiting the circus?" Shadowheart asked, reappearing outside the tent with most of her armour already on. She handed Bella her back plate, the paladin securing the straps on as she held the front. "I'm not opposed to it. Just us though? Wouldn't that be weird?"

"I've spoken to Wyll and Gale, after all the teasing. We have enough gold amongst the party that we can even bring the tiefling children with us," Bella said, Shadowheart smiling at her. "Let them have a distraction from all this chaos. They know who we are but we have to keep our eyes on them since..."

"They're all little thieves?" She stated with a smile.

"All aspiring to be Astarion," Bella said with a laugh. "Need help with your hair?"

Shadowheart shook her head, giving Bella a quick kiss. "I should be fine. I'll be ready to go soon. All of us are going?"

"Aylin and Isobel have decided to stay back with Jaheira to guard the camp and keep an eye out for Halsin. I think we all know what that means." Shadowheart rolled her eyes, brushing her hair out as Bella continued. "We'll leave as soon as Astarion is ready."

"So about an hour?" Shadowheart joked, Bella nodding as she walked away to relay the plan to the rest of the group. Shadowheart sighed looking up at the fading moon once more, saying a quick thanks before heading to Astarion's tent to use his mirror to fix her hair.

Bella groaned using her body to shield Doni and Silfy from the angered Djinn. She glared at Shadowheart, her lover not meeting her eyes but the smile on her face betrayed her. "Bring her back!" Karlach yelled out, drawing more eyes on them as the Djinn all but laughed.

"YOU DARE THREATEN ME, THE GREAT AKABI?!"

"BRING LAE'ZEL BACK YOU OVERBLOWN SACK YOU SHIT!"

"Karlach... children," Wyll chided, Astarion and Mattis now reappearing further away, whispering. "Stop taunting him."

"YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME AS IF WE WERE EQUALS?! YOU ARE A SCRAP OF FOOD IN MY TEETH! YOU ARE NOTHING! BEGONE!"

Karlach growled, all of them not moving fast enough as the area was covered in smoke, the echoes of Akabi's laughter filling the air as Karlach disappeared, a wheel of cheese replacing their fiery friend. "Oh hells! Karlach! What did you do?!"

The wheel of cheese jumped, trying desperately the attack the djinn, sending even Doni into a fit of giggles behind Bella. "Wyll, please pick up Karlach. We should leave. Now."

"But -!"

"Wyll!" Bella bit out, signaling to the children they had with them. "Now's not the time."

The wheel of cheese continued to jump against the laughing djinn, Shadowheart now joining her, Mirkon in tow, as they led the children away, towards the stage on the other side of the circus. "Really? Really?" Bella asked, Shadowheart shrugging.

"He was cheating. We evened the playing field," her lover said with a smile. "I'm sure Lae'zel is fine." As if summoned, Lae'zel appeared beside them, bloody but smiling. "See, she's fine." The wheel of cheese struggled in Wyll's grasp, jumping down and around Lae'zel as the woman smiled at the rest of them. "Karlach is asking what happened," Shadowheart pointed down, Lae'zel not even batting an eye as she looked down.

"I was sent to a jungle, honed my skills against some beasts like that one," Lae'zel explained, pointing to a caged dinosaur in the distance. "It was a great practice, having grown in appreciation for a subtler approach. Brough his 'jackpot' back, for you, dear friend." Lae'zel pulled out a glowing trident, smirking at the wheel of cheese below her. "Once you're back in form, that is."

"I'm sorry what happened now?" Gale asked, walking over to them. "I leave you all for 5 minutes to talk to a friend and - "

"FUCK YES! I LOVE YOU LAE! YOU'RE THE FUCKING BEST!" Karlach said, back in her full tiefling height as she crushed Lae'zel in a hug. "This is a beaut! Look at this!"

"Miss Bella, can we see the clown?" Silfy asked, tugging at her glove. Bella nodded, giving one last glare at her friends as they followed the children towards the stage. Bella listened as Karlach and Lae'zel conversed, Astarion and Mattis already in the crowd, no doubt having pickpocketed some of them already. 

"Buddy the dog is my very best friend, Do you know why?" the man named Dribbles asked the crowd, many around them asking why. "Because with him, anything is paw-sible. Wa-hey!"

There was a chorus of laughter, Bella masking her groan as cough as Shadowheart rolled her eyes. "Oh good! Puns! Because clowns aren't enough of a horror already." Astarion said, earning a laugh from Mattis, Mirkon hiding behind Shadowheart.

"Oof! No, Sorry Dribbles, that wasn't good." Karlach said.

"You - my special assistant," Dribbles pointed towards them, Bella raising an eyebrow. "Come on up." There was a feeling of dread, Bella now glaring at the man on the stage. She shifted to let Shadowheart take Silfy's hand, before looking at her friends.

"Go on, Karlach," she said with a smirk. "Up you go."

"Hang on now, soldier. I'm not paying for your sins." Karlach said, Bella staring them down.

"You're the one who wanted to come here. This is all you." Bella smiled. "Go on."

"This better be violent, sexy or both." Karlach said, begrudgingly going up to the stage. Bella watched as Shadowheart pulled Mirkon, Silfy and Doni behind her glaring up at the man on stage.

"Something's wrong," she heard Shadowheart whisper as the man called Dribbles shift, changing himself to reveal his true form.

"All hail the Absolute!"

"Gale!" Bella shouted, touching Silfy on the shoulder to cast a glyph of warding on her. "Run to Gale ok? He and Lae'zel will protect you." The girl nodded, tugging at Doni to follow her as well. She felt Shadowheart's magic wash around her as she saw her lover move closer to where Karlach stood on the stage, the radiant glow of several hawks and animals forming around her as Astarion shot an arrow at the shadow-cursed hound to distract it from now injured Karlach.

Panic set into the other circus goers as claws and howls echoed in the open area, Wyll repelling some of the dopplegangers away from the others as Bella sliced her way through the one near Astarion and Mattis, blocking a blow against a civilian, claws clipping her face. "Go! Mattis! Run!"

"I..." Mattis started to say.

"GO!" Bella yelled out, stabbing up at the doppleganger, Astarion stabbing it from the back as Mattis scrambled away. The fight wasn't long but the carnage was enough to make her pause. Where else did these dopplegangers infiltrate? If a normal circus and the Harpers aren't safe... Bella huffed, flicking the blood off her sword as she moved towards the stage to take a look at what was supposed to be the main act for the circus. 

This was going to be a problem. A big problem, if they don't make it a priority.

"If that's not Dribbles, then where is the real one?" Karlach asked, wiping the blood from their lip off with the back of their hand.

"I don't know, but we need to figure this out, and who's pulling these puppets strings," Bella said, looking back around them. Several other dead dopplegangers lay dead from their interference, none of the civilians hurt except for minor scrapes. 

"What do you want to do Bella?" Wyll asked, most of her friends looking at her. 

"Take the kids back to their guardians: You, Lae'zel and Gale. Tell my cousin what happened and have them meet us back at camp later tonight. Head back to camp and explain to Isobel and Jaheira what happened and have them be on alert. Start securing it. Gale, help Isobel with wards. The rest of us," Bella looked up at Karlach and Shadowheart, Astarion joining beside her. "Are going to start getting to the bottom of this."

Chapter Text

Bella listened as Lucretious explained to them when they last saw the real Dribbles, Karlach frowning at the loss of the entertainer. "To use such a woeful Dribbles impersonator - why it's downright rude!"

"You just lost the star of your show," Karlach said, "Aren't you bothered?"

"As much as I love a good murder, my customers don't. The real Dribbles charms animals and makes puns. Awful puns. Not - this." The ring master said with a hand flourish.

"Those weren't awful puns?" Astarion asked under his breath, Karlach elbowing him as Lucretious continued. 

"Alas, I cannot afford to lose any more staff - funerals are so very expensive. I need to move the circus. But I cannot leave just yet - not without the real Dribbles. He was a star - customers of every colour and creed simply adored him." Lucretious sighed, "I need him back. Find him. I'll make sure to adequately compensate you."

"He's probably dead," Shadowheart chimed in, Lucretious smiling at them.

"Even better! Undead don't need compensation." Bella frowned as Shadowheart rolled her eyes. Necromancers....

"Find him for me. Every last part of him. I can work my magic and everyone will be happy for it. Good luck and thanks ever so much." Lucretious bowed, all of them turning to leave. 

"We have to find him. He was a cornerstone of the circus. Think of the kids." Karlach said.

"The children should be happy he's gone," Shadowheart said, falling in step with Bella, "But for you, Karlach, we'll find every last part of the clown."

"So now we have to go find a dead clown? This day can't get any weirder." Astarion said. 

"At least it's only 1 murder," Bella commented, all of them hearing a scream. Everyone looked at her as she groaned. 

"We don't have to look, you know." Shadowheart reminded her, Belladonna closing her eyes. She heard Astarion groan but said nothing as they followed Bella out of the circus, going towards where the scream was. People were rushing outside, some gathering at the steps by the church when they arrived, the Fists already setting up a scene. 

"Get back! All of you." One of the guards yelled out, Bella crossing her arms. "Valeria is in there to examine what happened now! Get back!"

"That lousy drunk doesn't know shit!" One of the citizens yelled out, Bella looking over to where they were. "One of our own disappeared a tenday ago and she's done nothing about it! NOTHING!"

Bella kept an eye on the woman, only turning back to see the Fists raise their voice further. "Any concerns you might have, you can take up with the inspector after the investigation is over! Now leave the area!"

The crowd dispersed, many still grumbling under their breaths as Bella approached the woman. "Pardon me," Bella said, making the woman turn, glaring at her. "Couldn't help but overhear your distain for this inspector Valeria."

The woman looked her up and down, eyes landing on her cloak. "Another Selûnite. Are you with the group that's helping with the barn?"

"Different order but yes," Bella smiled. "We might not have the biggest jurisdiction here but we want to help where we could. You said one of your own disappeared?"

The woman huffed, motioning for them to follow her away from the Fists. "Three of them actually. All of them sought refuge with the church. None of them have come back out."

"That's concerning." Karlach said. "You sure?"

"Positive. More have disappeared too. Not just them. The Fists are useless at this. Those tin cans that stomp at all hours don't actually protect anyone."

"Got any names we can take down? We might have better luck, considering we have a standing invite to speak with the inspector." Bella asked.

The woman scoffed. "That would be the first time that stupid elephant ever did anything since she's crossed the bridge. Here," she fished out a crumpled piece of paper. "All the names of the missing over the last tenday. If you can find out what happened to them, even if its..." she sighed. "I just want closure for my sister. Please. I want to know what happened to her."

Bella nodded, taking the list and staring at the names - too many names for her liking. "We'll bring word of what we find. Any ideas where we can start other than the church?"

The woman pointed down past the church towards the path. "Rumours that there's caves under all of these parts. Networks. Not that I'd ever go into them to check but it might be a start." She looked all of them over and nodded. "Thank you. Name's Kass by the way. Even if you don't find her, the fact you're actually willing compared to the Fists...it's more than enough for me. I should go report back to my group. Thank you again."

Belladonna watched as the woman walked away, looking back at the church down the path and sighing. Astarion leered at the woman walking away. "You know what she is right?"

"Gur hunter, I know." Bella said, "I recognized the symbol after our first run in with them."

"Which means more of them are waiting at this camp. Which means this is all either one giant coincidence or something bigger is at play here." Astarion turned to her. "We shouldn't have let that hunter live! There's now a camp full of them!"

"She seemed to be more concerned about her sister than you, Astarion. I'd let this go, just for now." Shadowheart reasoned. "Besides, if her sister is amongst the dead..."

"Let's go speak to this Valeria," Bella said, cracking her neck as she looked up at the church of Ilmater. "And find out what's behind all of this."

Shadowheart knelt down as she looked at the dead body of the Father Lorgan, Karlach watching over her as Bella and Astarion left to speak with the rest of the Ilmatari elsewhere in the temple. Valeria was, as the Gur woman had already explained to them, utterly useless. She felt Bella's frustrations when speaking with the hollyphant, the 'detective' being dismissive when it came to their presence at the temple. 

"Why would the Moon Knights of Selûne be interested in this?" the hollyphant asked, narrowing her eyes at Belladonna.

"When more and more people go missing, detective, even we start to notice," Bella replied, Shadowheart tugging at her arm to lower it. In the end, they got clearance to investigate, the Ilmatari sister, Yannis, granting them full access to the temple to figure out what happened and to clear the man Valeria wanted to pin the murder on. 

Shadowheart frowned, touching the blood on the floor as she turned to Karlach with a heavy sigh. "Have you seen some incense anywhere?"

"We passed a bowl in the other room. Need it for something?" Karlach asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

Shadowheart bit her lower lip. "There should be a way to ask the body some questions. Not a lot but enough to help us. Necromantic spell. I should be able to do it. I remember doing it before but not in recent memory. I should just need a stick." 

Karlach nodded, leaving the room briefly to return with a couple sticks. "Yannis said she has more, if we need more."

"Let's hope not," Shadowheart replied, grabbing just one as she dipped it in the blood, lighting the stick with a snap of her fingers as she muttered the spells chant. "Cum mortuis in lingua mortua" she blew the smoke over the body, eyes glowing an ethereal green as the spell took hold, free hand now lifting the now glowing body of Father Lorgan.

"Who are you?" Shadowheart questioned, her body remembering this familiar sensation.

"Lorgan...Reverend...Open Hand..."

"Who did this to you?"

"Dwarf...dressed in red..." She saw Karlach's eyebrows shoot up, immediately scanning the room.

"What were you doing when this happened?"

"Hiding Bilgor...from Fists..."

"Where did you hide him?"

"Took him to the tunnels...with the rest...fool...fool..."

Shadowheart turned to Karlach, "I have one more question."

"Where or how, we need both." Karlach said, Shadowheart giving a nod. She breathed a deep sigh, "How did you die?"

"Blade...poisoned...paralysis..."

The spell faded, Shadowheart releasing the spell as the room fell silent again. "So some dwarf dressed in red killed him with a poison blade that causes paralysis somewhere in the tunnels." Karlach repeated the information given to them. "We haven't come across many dwarves in this place so that should narrow it down significantly."

"Dressed in red? Could it be a Fist?" Shadowheart asked as, she pulled the sheet over the deceased once more, muttering a silent prayer to her own goddess, and his, for the fallen priest. Karlach stayed silent, deep in thought about what she had said before blowing a raspberry. 

"It's an assumption we'd had to consider. That the Fists is covering for one of their own. Bad look for them but," Karlach sighed, Shadowheart looked over a her friend, mirroring thier frown as they left the sleeping quarters. "We can't rule them out."

"Not entirely," Shadowheart said, patting them on the back. "Let's go find Bella and see if she's been able to get any other info from the other Ilmatari."

They found Astarion and Bella outside, staring at some of the graves overlooking the cliffs and the circus. "Found anything?" Bella asked, not looking up from the grave she was staring at. Shadowheart stopped and stared at the grave, noting the prepared grave stone for Father Lorgan. 

"We spoke with the dead priest," Astarion looked over at her, Bella not turning as of yet. "They said it was a dwarf, dressed in red, that killed him. He also said something about the tunnels below, where he was hiding Bilgor."

Bella nodded, eyes not leaving the grave before she closed her eyes and turned around. "Are you still able to cast that spell?" Shadowheart nodded, Bella meeting her eyes. She could see the conflict in them, Bella always being uneasy when it comes to any form of necromancy.  

"As long as I have incense and given time, I should be able to cast it."

Bella nodded, pointing to the coffin leaning on the church's wall. "One of the priests said that was Bilgor. They were about to bury him. We have their permission to ask him questions too."

"They didn't ask him?" Karlach asked, Bella shrugging as she motioned for them to help lay the coffin down. Karlach handed her the rest of the incense before helping Bella, Astarion acting as a lookout for all of them. A younger teifling man lay in the in the coffin, same wounds as the priest inside. Shadowheart sighed, lighting another stick of incense as she muttered the same words before blowing the smoke over Bilgor's body.

Her eyes glowed the same ethereal green that enveloped the corpse, allowing her to lift it up as she began her questioning, "Who killed you?"

"Same...As killed...Lorgan..."

"Who killed Lorgan?"

"Dwarf...Red clothes...Stranger...."

"Were you alone when you died?"

"Father Lorgan...Helping me..." 

"Where did you die?"

"Tunnels...Beneath temple...Hidden from sight..."

"I have one question left," Shadowheart said, turning her eyes to Bella, making her tense up. 

"Ask if he remembers how to get into the tunnels," Bella said, Shadowheart turning her eyes back to the corpse as she asked the final question.

"How do I find the tunnels?"

"Concealed Buttons....Lorgan opened for me..." the spell faded, Shadowheart letting the corpse fall back into the coffin. 

"Both stories line up," Karlach said, Shadowheart giving them a nod. There was an uneasy feeling hanging in the air, Bella's eyes not leaving Bilgor's body. 

"Take Astarion and look for the tunnels. Ask the priests for help if you need to," Shadowheart said, catching Karlach and Astarion off guard, looking between them both. "We'll catch up, don't worry."

Both nodded, Bella not moving from her spot as their comrades left. Shadowheart stood by her, just watching her in her contemplation, taking in their surroundings. "Dead men, killed by the same person, dressed in red..."

"While one was helping the other hide from the Fists." Shadowheart finished, knowing where Bella's train of thought was going. "We thought of the same, Karlach and I, that the Fists are covering for their own." Bella let out a huff, small smirk gracing her face as she continued to stare at the body of the dead teifling. "Talk to me, Belladonna. You can't keep this to your self."

Bella sighed, looking up towards her then back to the grave she had been staring at before. "This...all of this...feels like we're responsible for it. That we did all of this somehow and now, people, innocent people, are dying because I was selfish."

"Bella, you're not responsible for any of this. You shouldn't have to feel like you're the only one who can solve any of it. We can walk away from this if you want, just say the word."

"No...I cant...We cant..."

Shadowheart bent down to stroke her lover's face. "Why not? Why do you feel like it's up to you? Up to us?"

Bella rubbed her eyes frustratedly. "Because we know exactly what's behind all of this. I think...Because...." Bella sighed, standing up her full height. "Why does it feel like this is something more? Why can't I shake the feeling that even if we leave this to the Fists or the Harpers, what's left of them anyways, we're still going to end up the only ones that could stop it at all. We're trying but it feels like we're not making any progress. And any progress we make, we uncover something else to look out for."

"This is the paladin in you, you know that right?" Shadowheart reassured. "You can trust others on this but I know it will be hard for you, and to an extent, for Wyll, to let this go. But we've only been in town for a couple of days. We haven't even made it into the city proper." Shadowheart looked down at the grave before looking out to the rest of the cemetery. "We'll figure this out. If not, we still allies that can look into it and we can revisit it again later."

"I hope you're right."

"I'm always right." Shadowheart teased, earning a smile from her lover. "Let's catch up to the dynamic duo before they take care of all the fun."

Belladonna glared as the doppelganger's claws slashed into her, its sickening smile frozen in place as the spikes of a familiar trident pierced its throat, smattering her with its blood. She pushed it down just as the trident was recalled, looking over to see twin arrows fly from the darkness to hit the last remaining cultist dead on their tracks, the cave once again falling to an uneasy silence.

"How many of these bastards are there?!" she heard Astarion's voice from the darkness above her, the man frowning as he pushed down one of the dead clones from where he was.

"Too many," Shadowheart replied, hands going from a sickly green glow to a pale yellow as she muttered a familiar incantation to heal Karlach's open would. "Enough to bring chaos everywhere and anywhere in the city."

"Keep an eye out for more, Astarion." Bella said, bending down to inspect the one human cultist. Woman, girl really, couldn't have been more than 20. Hands calloused enough to indicate a life working with their hands. An old rusted knife lay a few feet away from her, dropping it when the arrow pierced her throat. Belladonna picked up the knife, looking for any clue that might link them to someone, some group that could be held responsible for the attacks but nothing. "Clean, all of them. As if they knew not to show which group they belong to."

"Still doesn't rule out the Fists." Astarion said from above. "And we do have two deities posing as one to keep in mind."

"We should head back," Shadowheart suggested, giving Karlach a pat on the shoulder before joining Belladonna where she was. "We need Isobel and Jaheira's thoughts on this. Especially Jaheira. She might know more, if not, maybe she can talk to that floating elephant to let us through to the city, despite what's going on at the Crossing."

"Can we stop by the forge? I need more arrows," Astarion asked, jumping down from the ledge to join them. Bella nodded, taking in the cave system one last time. Even with all of them, it could take days to go through all the different paths it possibly has. Something was still calling out to her, taunting her before the feeling went away. 

"You okay?" Karlach asked, looking the same direction she was looking at. Bella nodded, motioning for them to all leave the same way they came, looking back at the cave one last time. An echo of a laugh reverberated behind them, stopping them all as a chill went down Bella's spine.

Too late, little one. You're too late to save them.