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Only Natural

In which Gale’s attempt to come clean is interrupted by a bath, and Gale is not cut out to be a druid. Pre-Weave scene.

AO3 Link: More Than Magic - Chapter 1 - InquisitorLavellan - Baldur's Gate (Video Games) [Archive of Our Own]

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“Aster?” Gale called into the trees as he walked away from camp. It was rare to be able to catch one of their band of misfit, reluctant adventurers alone, so Gale was eager to seize the opportunity while the druid was away from camp for a moment.

Well, somewhat eager, somewhat terrified. Part of him hoped he would fail to find her and have an excuse to hold on to his horrible secret just a while longer. His anxiety caused the orb lodged in his chest to thrum, as if that secret were mocking him. He paused for a moment and took a deep breath, gathering his resolve. Even if she turned him away, even if she could never look at him the same way again, she deserved to know. She was the kindest, most generous person he had ever met, going out of her way to help anyone in need despite the imminent danger of ceremorphosis lurking in their skulls. She had given him so much, quite literally saved his life many times over, without question or hesitation, and the very least he owed her was the truth.

As he passed through a thick patch of trees, he emerged to find a small, secluded lake. The clear, still water reflected the vibrant hues of the sky painted by the setting sun. Rocks were scattered across the muddy shoreline, and leaning against one Gale spotted a familiar staff with a neatly folded leather coat beside it. She must be somewhere nearby, likely enjoying the picturesque display of nature’s beauty stretched out before him. He took a second to appreciate it himself before calling out again.

“Aster? I was hoping to talk to you about something, if you have a moment.” His eyes scanned the lake again, still not spotting the druid. As a gnome, her small stature did make it easier to hide, though her striking red hair somewhat negated that stealth advantage. Still, she might not currently be gnome-shaped at all, and if she were one of the many birds and squirrels visible along the lakeshore, he would hardly be able to tell.

He saw something emerging from the lake, which quickly revealed itself to be the top of Aster’s head. As she walked closer to the shoreline, the tips of her pointed ears broke the surface of the water, with the rest of her head and shoulders following quickly behind. Her wet brown skin glistened in the sunlight, freckles smattered across it like stars in the night sky.

“Of course. What do want to talk about?” she asked as she continued toward the shore. She grasped her auburn curls between her hands to wring the water out. It fell from her hair and cascaded over her shoulders like a miniature waterfall, droplets of water leaving curving trails over her ample breasts.

Hold on a moment. Her breasts. Gods, she was completely naked.

Gale felt his face grow hot as blood rushed to his cheeks and, well, . . . elsewhere. The orb in his chest began a familiar thrum as it always did when he experienced a strong emotion or physiological response. He closed his eyes and raised his arm in front of them, half making a show out of not looking and half attempting to obscure his flushed cheeks from view.

“Ahem,” he started, clearing his throat, “my apologies if I caught you by surprise, but you are aware that you’re not wearing any clothes, aren’t you?”

“One generally doesn’t when bathing,” she replied, and he can practically hear a smug smile in the tone of her voice. Alright, not the response he was expecting. It seemed he was the only one to have been caught unawares.

“Fair point,” he responded with a slight nod, arm still covering his eyes, “though I would counter that one generally does whilst having a conversation.”

She laughed, “I forget how . . . weird non-druids can be about nudity. Clothes have their uses, sure, but there is nothing strange or shameful about our naked bodies; they’re only natural.”

He had heard druids had a more casual outlook on such things but had never been confronted with that philosophy head-on. Gale couldn’t imagine being so blasé about seeing someone naked. Especially her. The image of her emerging from the lake, all soft curves and sun-kissed flesh, popped into his head again and threatened to reignite the fire in his body that had only just started to subside. He prayed she would dress quickly so he could open his eyes again and stop his mind’s eye from running wild in the dark.

“Well, some of us are not prepared to embrace your free-spirited druid ways just yet.” There was an awkward pause as he waited for some signal that she had finished getting dressed. Surely it couldn’t take this long. Perhaps she simply enjoyed watching him squirm.

Mercifully, she spoke. “You can stop covering your eyes now.”

He opened his eyes to see a now fully dressed Aster, leaning her shoulders forward slightly as her hands rested on tilted hips. “So,” Aster said with a smile and a quick raise of her brows, “did you enjoy the view?”

Gale froze like a cornered animal, sensing the trap closing in. What response was she looking for? If he answered honestly that he had, would she think him a leering creep? If he lied or refused to answer, would she be insulted? Did she want him to find her attractive? He doubted she shared feelings similar to those he was developing toward her, but that didn’t mean she would not appreciate a compliment.

The right corner of her mouth lifted even higher into a devious smirk and there was a playful twinkle in her eyes, as if she could see the thoughts warring inside his head. Oh, she definitely enjoyed watching him squirm.

“As I am sure you are aware, you are a most attractive woman, though also rest assured that I was not attempting to spy on you,” Gale replied, finally settling on a carefully measured response that would hopefully not offend regardless of the answer she sought.

“Gale!” Aster replied with a tone of sarcastic shock, “I was talking about the lake! Doesn’t it look beautiful at sunset?” She tutted and shook her head in mock disapproval, “And here I thought you were a gentleman.”

Gale rolled his eyes and breathed out sharply through his nose. “Tease me if you wish, but you and I both know you were not talking about the lake.”

She laughed. “Speaking of talking, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

Ah, right, he had come here for a reason that was not to thoroughly embarrass himself. However, now hardly felt like the time to discuss such serious matters. The right moment would come, and Gale prayed, to whom he wasn’t certain anymore, that the truth of his condition would not ruin everything.

“You know,” Gale lied, shaking his head, “I completely forgot.”

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