Nyx, Tav and Astarion PoVs.

Nyx was either going to walk a groove through the tiles or wear out the soles of her boots. She scraped her resolve together, took an exaggerated deep breath, pinched her eyes shut and attempted to cross the threshold once more. Her body refused to move, its instincts keeping her rooted. A long, frustrated sigh escaped her, and she ran a hand over her face.

Abyss take it. I can't risk being trapped in the Shadowfell.

No matter how much she wanted to help, everything in her screamed to stay away, to hold back. Nyx trusted her instincts more than anything else.

Meditation proved useless, since the creeping worry simply dragged her thoughts down into a spiral of imagining worse case events. She suspected her proximity to the Shadowfell and her connection to it via the curse was amplifying those fears. Tormenting her with the various dreadful possibilities of losing her companions all-the-while she couldn't even muster up the courage to step over a tiled line. Panic rose in her body.

No, no. We are not doing that. Get a grip Nyx. Focus on how you can help. Think. Breathe.

She paced in a circle. Upon the fifth orbit around the room, she managed to wrestle the trepidation back down into her stomach, where it sat like a cold dead weight. Light danced from the violet waters on the opposing side, and her accusing glare had no effect on its apparent indifference. A huff escaped her throat.

Ready. Be ready for when they do need help.

The affirmation became a mantra, and she settled herself nearby, retrieving her whetting stones and laying down her whiskers. Intent on channelling her anxiety into alertness instead.

--- --- ---

Tav had expected the Shadowfell to be darker, from a visibility standpoint, however the oppressive chill and seeping fear made her magic stand on ends well enough. Gale had to shake her out of her stupor upon finding themselves here the first time, and Shadowheart managed to ward off the horrific visions that overtook Tav's mind.

My nightmares made real again.

She jumped when another booming alien crackle of magic rippled through the featureless surroundings.

"Soldier."

Fiery yellow eyes held her gaze and Karlach set a hand on her shoulder. "We've been more than a match for these fuckers so far. We're going to be okay."

It didn't matter whether the speech wasn't the most poetic or eloquent that she'd ever heard. Her other companions stood fast behind Karlach, determination and vigilance lining their stances and expressions.

Take heart.

Tav nodded stiffly and managed a small 'Thank you'. Karlach flashed her shit-eating-grin and patted her shoulder.

They were standing among a broken-up sea of desolate floating islands. Shadowheart had already made it to the adjacent area. Karlach rushed forward into a running leap toward the next floating platform. A shout of equal measure challenge and excitement trailing after; the effects of this plane allowing them to reach the distant islands with ease. The rest followed suit grinning like mad idiots.

It occurred to Tav that one had to be stark raving mad to attempt what they were about to do.

--- --- ---

It is a haunting place, Astarion decided. Not in the traditional sense, mind you, but it had the knife's edge of something watching. Waiting for a misstep, an opportunity to pounce.

Although, he didn't notice Shadows darting from view as with the Shadowlands. He presumed that the foreboding absence of life was, due to the presence of the Shadowweave itself - slowly and incessantly stripping away any sense of security. Fear clawed at him, yet he was well accustomed to living in it every day. He could resist for now, but he was aware where it eventually led.

Submission.

A cruel, but effective trick for obedience. One he knew all too well - stripping away your safety until you beg for it from your captor. Savouring what little morsels they were willing to feed you.

It became my prison, and I couldn’t escape. Even when the jailor was absent... Still absent.

He curled his lip when a central platform came into view between the gloomy mist - making out the feint outlines of a person, seemingly contained within a circle.

How I hate to be right in this instance. But then again, what do I expect when traipsing around an impossibly looking shadow dimension? Can we go somewhere nice after this?

---

The moment Astarion's feet touched the central platform another shiver ran up his spine. Fear coated his senses. He understood Nyx's unwillingness to enter this plane given her, condition. His own composure was eroding, and they ought to be done with their business here quickly. Tav and Shadowheart approached the prisoner as the others sidled next to him. They kept their distance.

The prisoner was a woman, stature and build like Karlach's. Clothed in rags, she looked pitiful, but defiance flared in her grey gaze upon noticing Tav and Shadowheart. She straightened, locked her scowl onto Shadowheart and declared with fisted hands, "I have felt you coming. The first in a century. You, who have come to seek the praise of your wicked goddess. You, who have come to drive a dagger through my heart."

Shadowheart's stance matched the woman’s, and she countered, "Not a dagger - a spear. My Lady Shar's spear."

Realization shot through Astarion and several of the others gasped.

Tav asked urgently, "This is the Nightsong?", taken aback when Shadowheart nodded grimly, and her ponytail swayed with the motion.

Shadowheart cut off Tav's objection about her being a prisoner and defenceless. "Her fate is mine to seal. Let me handle this."

Before Tav could protest again, Nightsong spoke, "The fate you seal is your own. To be a Dark Justiciar is to turn your heart from everything but loss. You will know no love, no joy - only servitude. Until, of course, your mistress inevitably discards you."

Shadowheart's armoured gloves strained when she fisted her hands and Nightsong continued, "And there is much she does not tell you - a terrible blood price that may extend beyond my own death."

Shadowheart's stance shook as she seethed, glowering at Nightsong.

Tav extended an imploring hand and queried softly, "Is this truly what you want?" Looking back at Nightsong. Tav's previous warning to Shadowheart about taking this path hung between them.

"I... yes. I think so.", Shadowheart's devotion fell briefly, "My whole life's been leading to this. No turning back now."

Tav took a step back, gaping while Shadowheart summoned the Spear of Night. Tav looked over her shoulder at the others; deep sadness marred her expression, and she merely shook her head.

The interaction was not lost on Nightsong. "Well, well, well. What's that I sense? A spear intended for my heart? Empowered by your goddess, aye - empowered to kill the child of a god." She leaned forward in challenge as Shadowheart neared, but several mage hands materialized to hold Nightsong back. "Do you know what I am, little assassin? For I know you - a lost child frightened by wolves in the dark."

A small sound of surprise escaped Shadowheart, and she halted. "What did you say...?"

"Much has been promised to you, hasn't it? But what has been taken from you? What do you know of your own heart - your own life? I sense more in you that you know."

Shadowheart gestured with a flat hand and stated, "Whatever you think you know of me won't matter, once I become whom I'm meant to be."

Tav grasped at the opportunity Nightsong had created, "There is something going on here, Shadowheart - more than the obvious. Would it not be wise to spare her and find out what that is before we do something irreparable?"

The Shadowfell's magical boom ripped through the air again and Shadowheart's wound flared. Tav clutched her hands to her chest and Astarion noticed the others holding their breaths as well. A long moment of silence followed, Tav's attention on Shadowheart, whose gaze did not falter from Nightsong's.

Shadowheart's grip around the spear tightened once more and for a moment Astarion was certain she meant to drive it into Nightsong. Some of the other's shifted next to him, yet he stood firm. He had no desire to interfere – he wasn’t willingly shaping himself into the target of a scorned goddess.

I have enough problems already, thank you.

Shadowheart turned the spear over and grasped it with both hands looking at it. Another gasp escaped them collectively when Shadowheart swerved around and cast the spear over the edge of the platform.

Shadowheart was staring in disbelief at her own hands and snapped her wide gaze to Tav's. "I... I can't believe just did that. Lady Shar will disown me... What will happen to me?"

Beyond, Nightsong was relieved as expected, yet seemingly proud? "Not what will happen - what will you do." Shadowheart stared at Nightsong while she continued, "Your past is not yet lost. Your future is not yet fixed.", and she beckoned Shadowheart closer, "Lay a hand on me in friendship, not-quite-Sharran, and I will fight the battle that has been waiting for me this last century. Then - oh then, we will have much to discuss."

Nightsong dropped to one knee and lowered her head, hair the colour of straw fell over her shoulders. Shadowheart hesitated for a few loud heartbeats, and she tentatively extended her hand to place it upon Nightsong's shoulder. The magic of her prison shattered and Nightsong choked, leaning forward on both hands and knees. The scent of salt touched Astarion’s nose as a single tear fell on the ground before Nightsong.

Nightsong heaved once. "Our Lady of Silver. Hear me!" She beat the ground with a fisted hand and the dirt rippled beneath their feet. "She Who Guides, the Moonmaiden Selune..." She threw her head back and rose. Shadowheart gasped taking several steps back. Moonlight pierced through the Shadowfell. It illuminated Nightsong and the scars crisscrossing skin glowed silver in response, smiling she cried to the sky above, "Mother of the so-called Nightsong. The Nightsong is no more! I am Dame Aylin, Daughter of the Selune and Champion of the Light!"

Another blinding ray of light ripped through the darkness, shielding their eyes they could make out Dame Aylin's silhouette inside reaching up to the sky. Magic enveloped her and Astarion felt its soothing caress while she was lifted from the ground. Hovering in the air a gleaming sword was delivered to Aylin from above. She grasped it, more blinding light burst from her form - shadows clamouring away. When the light snuffed, Astarion himself had to gasp at the marvellous sight. Dame Aylin now fully clothed in silver armour embossed with blue patterns regaling the Moonmaiden. Her eyes, skin and hair aglow. Wings shot from her back, simmering with light and she set herself down on the ground once more.

Smiling at the shocked expressions, Dame Aylin said, "I am resplendent." She inclined her head to Shadowheart. "You have given me a great gift, little warrior. Don't you find it oh-so-curious that you would spurn your Dark Lady? Perhaps you feel a stirring of the truth already." Her gaze lifted to the sky briefly and she shook out her wings. "But that will come later. There is a battle yet to be fought." She studied each of them in turn and mused, "You have done what we feared was impossible. You have released me from a century of shadow. Your power is great. And the Moonmaiden will provide. Thus, I have said; thus, will it be so." Addressing Tav she asked, "Are you ready?"

Tav replied absently, still in awe of the glowing half-angel before them, "Ready for what?"

Dame Aylin's eyes flashed in defiance. "To kill Ketheric Thorm." Tav ducked and the rest flinched when she snapped her wings out to their full impressive berth and without another word, she catapulted into the air heading for the tear the moonbeam had left in its wake.

Shadowheart's request jolted them out of their gaping, and she urged, "We need to leave. Lady Shar won't stand for us to be here - not after what we did."

The rumblings of the Shadowfell's magic had fallen silent and Tav remark looking around, "If Shar is angry, she's being remarkably quiet about it."

Shadowheart nodded and fretted with her hands, "That's what frightens me. She must be angry, yet I don't feel it, or hear it... There's only silence."

They jumped when another moonbeam cleaved the sky to strike the ground close by akin to a lightning bolt. A swirling portal sprung from the scored area and Shadowheart motioned towards it, "Let's get out of here, please. Whatever's coming, I don't want to be in the midst of the Shadowfell when it finds me."

Heeding her warning they hastened through the portal.

--- --- ---

Nyx didn't register what happened. One moment she was sitting on the low flanking wall next to a brazier, and the next she was violently flung through the air. Raw power roared through her and she squeezed her eyes shut at the overwhelming light blinding her vision and senses. The Shadowcurse shuddered.

She blinked the spots from her eyes, shaking her head. Laying on her back, she glimpsed a winged humanoid erupting from the pool casting its waters over her, drenching her and the room. The water steamed and dissipated from Nyx as she gaped upward, squinting to track the figure's path through the room's high ceiling. Upon reaching the end, another blow shook the temple proper. The figure left through what Nyx presumed to be a hole in the roof and caverns beyond. Darkness descended and Nyx couldn't see the figure's glow anymore.

By the Abyss! Nyx stared dazed at the empty pool, trying to comprehend what had happened, Was that… an Aasimar?

She choked. Rage overtook her - not her own - and she threw her magic against it, wrapping her mind in multiple defensive layers.

The Shadowfell! It was livid, and Nyx took it as a sign of her companion's success. She focused on the source of its fury. The dark magic of the Shadowweave gathered, lashed out and clawed its way through the temple at speed, It is hunting something - someone!

Nyx scrambled to her feet and followed its course, desperately shadow-stepping through the temple trying to keep up while the magic charged toward its target. Nyx was trailing behind, soon she lost sight of it, but its destination was clear: the Shadowweave was heading for the tomb entrance.

---

She reached the massive tomb gates, heaving with excursion. Unfamiliar magic crackled outside. With her heart in her throat, she hurried on to find a portal of Selunite’s magic delivering her companions to her one-by-one. Mercifully uninjured.

Thank the Graces!

Her feet carried her to Astarion, ignoring the pain and the revulsion the light caused in her cursed part. She stopped short in front of him, and he blinked at her in surprise. Her gaze fell dutifully upon each of her companions, and she breathed amazed, "Everyone alright?"

Tav answered by way of a concerned question, "Where is Shadowheart?" The Selunite portal abruptly sputtered shut, but Shadowheart was nowhere to be seen. A croak escaped Tav, "No, no, no - did Shar take her?"

Cold dread shot through Nyx, Did my feared fate become Shadowheart's? Did she become its prey?

The Shadowcurse shifted and rolling thunder travelled through the clouds overhead. Nyx's head snapped to a growing disturbance close by and she stalked to it carefully.

Another portal appeared, a freezing bellowing mist from the Shadowfell poured from it and it unceremoniously dumped an unconscious Shadowheart into Nyx's arms. Nyx steeled herself and gently set Shadowheart on the ground, Tav at their side in an instant. Both probed at Shadowheart with their respective healing magic. Gale joined, potions in hand.

Nyx shook her head at a proffered flask and provided, "She's in shock. Her body needs time to recover properly. I don't know what Shar did, but it was..." Nyx paused eyeing a distraught Tav, and finished looking back at Gale, "It was brutal." His eyes widened briefly, and he nodded solemnly.

Nyx's body shot up. Alarm escaped Tav and Gale while Nyx's magic hackles stood on ends. Her head snapped to the sky. A beam of light was headed their way.

"Thank Tymora!"

The brilliant and expectant smiles from the others eased Nyx's nerves, but she made some distance between her and the fluttering of shimmering wings.

Astarion gave Nyx a sympathetic look when she hissed while shielding her eyes against the fading light. She squinted at the Aasimar; the same she had witnessed escaping the temple.

Tav addressed her with familiarity, "Dame Aylin! What a relief - I thought you were heading for Ketheric?"

"Forthwith at first, aye." Cool grey eyes appraised Tav and fell to Shadowheart at her feet, "It was fortuitous that I returned to ensure your safety first. The little warrior is in need of my assistance." Without hesitation, Dame Aylin knelt next to Shadowheart and placed an armoured hand upon her brow. Shadowheart moaned and coughed. The paladin rose and said smiling, "There is much fight in her yet. Too, her companions," she appraised the rest, and her knowing gaze settled a moment longer on Nyx. She remarked casually, "You have a long road ahead yet."

Nyx wasn't sure whether that was meant for everyone or for her specifically but considering that 'the opposing side's' paladin hadn't smote her where she stood bode well, I hope. Nyx let out her held breath.

Tav and Gale helped a groggy Shadowheart to her feet. Dame Aylin shook out her wings and said gravely, "We cannot delay. Ketheric will know of my release, and he cannot be given a chance to prepare for my coming. I will head to Moonrise Towers, and he will be brought to face My Lady Silver's wrath."

Nyx's eyebrows climbed into her hairline and she glanced at Astarion. He mouthed, 'The Nightsong.' Her mouth ajar as realization followed, much to his amusement.

Tav confirmed their support with the siege of Moonrise as soon as Shadowheart was able. Dame Aylin inclined her head and departed in trailing moonlight.

Shadowheart was leaning against a nearby crumbling wall. They were gathered around her. Her head in her hands, she spoke softly, "I... I thought I was done for. I thought perhaps I might have been dead. This... this is all like some sort of terrible dream." Her gaze met Tav's eyes, imploringly her voice shook. "But it's real, isn't it? I stood before the Nightsong. I heard Lady Shar's words... and I failed her."

Tav's brows knit, and she lowered herself to her haunches in front of Shadowheart.

"Worse than failed her - I defied her." A choke escaped Shadowheart, and she gestured vaguely to the sky, "Just because of what that Aasimar said." She took a shaky breath and stared at the ground, her hands limp in her lap. "I tried to leave... but Shar blocked me. Punished me for failing her. I thought I knew the limit of pain that the incurable wound could inflict, but I had no idea." Her face pinched. "It felt like I was suffering the agony of a thousand people, all at once. My blood was boiling, my hair was on fire. I thought I'd claw my own face off with the pain..."

Tav took one of her hands in her own and Shadowheart stared unfocussed in front of her. "But then she released me - banished me more like. She said I was an outcast, that all her children would know me and revile me.” A final whisper. “I'm alone."

She tried to look away when her voice quivered, but Tav beckoned her to meet her gaze and said onto her, "If it's any consolation, I think you did the right thing." Nyx and the others either nodded or made comments to the same effect.

Shadowheart gaped at them in turn and barked an incredulous laugh, "You're lucky to have such confidence. Me... I think the full price of what I've done has yet to reveal itself. I'm a target to Lady Shar's followers now."

Nyx shrugged and deadpanned, "Join the club". Lae'zel grunted, and Astarion sighed, in agreement.

Shadowheart gave Nyx, Astarion and Lae'zel a long unreadable look then returned her attention to Tav when she probed, "How are you feeling?"

Shadowheart glared at her and yanked her hand from Tav's. "Do you really need to ask?"

Tav said gently, "I meant, are you feeling strong enough for what we need to do next?"

"Oh, I. I am. Ready... I'm sorry. I have a lot on my mind... the Shadowfell, Nightsong... I can think of little else."

"The shadow curse - does it affect you now?"

"Same as anyone. Lady Shar's blessings... they're gone." She looked off into the distance.

Tav nodded and stood to retrieve the pixie's bell from her pack.

Published: 04 April 2025