Deadfire - Tumblr Posts
It’s perfect and I love it! Thank you soo much for this <3
Through the Leaden Keyhole
He smiled.
It wasn’t something new or unfamiliar, but Semarg could count on his fingers how many times this wizard decided to smile. It wasn’t often, and when it happened people around him were always in some kind of awe. Aloth was hard to read in that particular matter. Semarg tried to get to know him better for some time now, and even after defeating Thaos, he couldn’t guess around what his thoughts were focused on. And it was a bit frustrating for him because at some point he found out that this elf was in some way attractive to him, so to speak.
He smiled and Semarg was already in a better mood. He looked into Aloth’s eyes and stared into them for a few seconds.
“Are you looking for something out there, captain?” The elf was a bit confused but tried not to show it.
Nature godlike, captain of the Defiant smiled a bit and moved his gaze to other things around them.
“I think that I found what I was looking for.” He answered, turning his face towards the wizard.
“Is that right?” Aloth replied, trying to hide the blush on his pale face.
They were looking at each other for a short time before one of the crewmates started to knock on Semarg’s door.
“Captain?” He asked.
“Yes?”
“We need you on a deck.” Short reply followed by salutation.
“Sure thing.” Semarg turned his head towards Aloth once again and smiled a bit, trying to cheer him up. “I’ll be back soon. I prepared something for you.”
“I know, I know. I will try to catch up with Iselmyr…” And after the words left his mouth he figured out how dumb this sentence was. Catch up with someone who was sharing a body with him? Dumb Aloth, dumb.
A few seconds after that Semarg left the room and disappeared from Aloth’s sight.
***
Time was passing and Semarg still was talking to his crewmates. He probably had to give them new orders or just tell them where to go next. It was always a bit frustrating for the elf. He never imagined how hard it must be for the Watcher from Caed Nua to become the captain of the ship, on the sea which was unknown for them both. Gods, it was even harder for him to keep up with everything that occurred after they arrived. Between his own crusade against the Leaden Key and the fact of trying to be a support for the Watcher, he never thought too much about the future. And now? Now he had plenty of time to spend on that.
Neketaka city was behind and Aloth felt like they have done everything in their power to help queen Onekaza marking this point. Now they were trying to reach a mysterious tribe which was somehow connected to the Leaden Key. Or at least Aloth thought so. Maybe even hoped. His crusade wasn’t going well, despite all the success he already achieved. Those were the things he wanted to share with his friend but probably the time wasn’t right. At least not now.
Waiting for Semarg didn’t bring much effect, and the day was slowly coming to an end. Aloth knew that if he stayed a moment without something to distract him, he would probably fall asleep and all his friend would see after his return would be the unconscious body of the elf. Also, he kept thinking about this surprise Semarg mentioned earlier. What could it be?
But even that wasn’t enough to keep him distracted.
Yawning was slowly bringing the inevitable, and at the same time, the moons climbed more and more into the sky. Aloth looked through the window of the captain’s cabin and watched as the water moved gently, not being disturbed by any winds that could bring a storm. His eyes flickered from one sea creature to the other emerging above the surface of the water every now and then.
He smiled once again, probably only to his thoughts.
At one point he caught himself smiling once more, imagining his first meeting with Semarg. It was like they had fallen on each other in the Gilded Vale, he and the rogue who was unfamiliar to him. He couldn’t be more happy at the time. It was like divine salvation from his troubles. Then the same mysterious Watcher rescued him from the trouble Iselmyr had brought on him by saying too many words about local people. And even though at this point he did not want to admit to the specificity of the problem he was struggling with through his life, he knew that in time he would trust the man who had stood up for the stranger. And he would tell him everything he wanted to know. It also worked. As their adventure proceeded, Aloth told Semarg almost everything about his personal life. He told him about his parents and the academy. He even told him about his awakening and how Iselmyr influenced his personal life.
His eyelids grew heavier and the strength of will holding him conscious lost its value with every passing minute. A few seconds later he was already asleep.
***
Talking to the crew was always tiring. Semarg knew that he has to do this even though it wasn’t his fan favourite. He wasn’t a fan of the socializing at all, but he knew that it was crucial to his cause. Of course, he would prefer to lay down and chill, but he also knew that there is so much to do. And also he was running out of time.
Everyone on the Deadfire Archipelago needed him to do something for them. Kill this, do that, go there and check this place. People were using him as a personal mercenary who would do anything to help his own cause. And they were not mistaken. At least not at all. He needed some alliances and people here, on Deadfire, were suitable for that role. Not all of them, but most. He just had to realize with whom join forces and chase after the long lost and forgotten island of Ukaizo.
Rubbing his forehead, he descended below the deck. He opened his quarters and sighed.
Aloth was already sleeping, cuddled to his pillow. He smiled. Mostly because not every day he was able to watch this elf sleeping. Especially in his own bed.
Trying to make the least noise possible, he tiptoed to the bed and sat at the edge of it. He looked and Aloth’s face and sighed gently. Oh boy, he was so ready to just lay down and fall asleep next to him. Unfortunately, he had so much work to do. He was the captain, and he had to keep all the things tight. As tight as it was possible.
Using his left hand, he moved some hair from Aloth’s face and kept looking at him. He looked so peaceful and innocent. His pale skin was reflecting moonlight from behind the window, and his slow breaths kept his body moving slightly. Semarg felt so fortunate and blissful. He never would assume that he and Aloth would end up like that. Not in the nearest future, not now. He brushed his face with the back of his hand and smiled.
“Sleep tight, my prince.” He whispered into his ear and placed a small kiss on his forehead. “Tomorrow awaits you.”
After that, he placed a small leaden key with a letter on the locker next to the bed. It was addressed to Aloth, and he hoped that in the morning he would be able to read it.
He sat next to him for a few more minutes, and after that returned to his work as a captain of the Defiant.
New adventures awaited them in the future, and gods only knew what will those bring into their lives.
Okay, so I promised my friend @vicdin to write a fanfic about her Pillars of Eternity’s OC and Aloth. I was supposed to write it during the Pride Month, but boy oh boy. I had so much on my head during that time, and I wasn’t able to finish it. Right now it’s done and I hope that she will like it. Also, as always, English is not my mother tongue so it’s not perfect, but I felt joy writing it.
A doodle of my ranger character Arryn, from Pillars of Eternity & Deadfire💘
