This large tavern room was a new kind of place for her. The sleeping couch was one of the most comfortable things she had ever slept on, but that also added to the unfamiliarity. At least there was no longer much noise coming from downstairs. She had been advised when she first arrived here that it would go on very far into the night, but perhaps not for its entirety. Instead, the room was filled with the sounds of her companions sleeping. That was now what was familiar to Lae'zel, what she took comfort in having around her.
She could, in fact, now distinguish the sounds of most of the people in the room. Of course, the new strange fool of a human that had joined them apparently a short time ago was an exception. But she could assume the loud snoring was him. Gale also snored when he wasn't talking, but did so more quietly, and that, too, she could hear, as well as the breathing of Sara beside him, soft enough Lae'zel could barely hear it from her couch. Similarly, she heard the distinct huffs Karlach made in her sleep, and now knew the man breathing next to her to be Wyll. Halsin was also easy to identify; he breathed like his bear form in his sleep. Yenna she could hear near the two animals.
Jaheira and Shadowheart she found a little trickier, sometimes. Jaheira more than Shadowheart, since she hadn't been with them as long. But as Lae'zel listened, filtering out the sounds of everyone she had identified, she first became aware that the last person she could hear asleep was definitely not the cleric. And while she had occasionally heard some footsteps in the room as well, and assumed that to be Astarion, she suddenly realized she was hearing them from two different parts of the room.
She still remembered what she knew she'd heard the previous night. She'd never quite heard that kind of giggle from Shadowheart before, and she'd recognized giddiness in it, as well as the change to her gait, absolutely that of a female who had been fucked, and fucked hard. Shadowheart could claim what she liked, but there'd truly been no mistaking it.
It had honestly stunned her a little, how fiercely the jealousy had flooded her. There was no denying she was not currently at her strongest, and especially hadn't been last night. The weaknesses had, it seemed, hit her mind as well as her body, making her want things she'd spent her life trying not to want, such as soothing, and softer touches, and for someone to show her how much they cared about her.
Well, she supposed these companions of hers had done that already, rescuing her as such risk to themselves. No Githyanki would have ever done such a thing, at least in theory, though Lae'zel could no longer claim she wouldn't have done it for one of them. And before she'd limped out of the temple, she'd heard Jaheira scold Shadowheart for starting the fight with a bolt fired at Orin before Sara had given any word to strike, and heard Shadowheart cry out that she might have killed her prisoner the instant she looked up and saw them, if she had not been distracted first, and the emotion in her voice had been an outright shock.
They'd still been arguing a little when they'd arrived at the tavern a little after her, and Shadowheart had brought up, apparently not for the first time, how Jaheira had nearly killed her with a thunderwave during a fight against some wizard with constructs. It had obviously been accidental on the druid's part, as she'd said in response, and Lae'zel knew well that sometimes in the heat of combat, such mistakes could easily be made. And yet just the thought of it, of Shadowheart hurled back and almost broken into pieces, made Lae'zel want to had words-or possibly more-with Jaheira.
In the time that had passed after the night she'd fucked Astarion and seen Shadowheart's face when she'd come, Lae'zel had found herself burning more and more for this half elf whom she'd once wanted to kill-but Astarion had been right, when he'd seen how alike they were, and when she was cast from her goddess and found another, Lae'zel had then wanted so badly to tell her how much she understood. While enduring Orin's tortures, she had kept her mind by thinking about all her companions, no longer even feeling any shame or embarrassment over her caring about all of them. She had thought a good deal about Sara. But she had thought even more about Shadowheart, about her eyes, her voice, her hands when she cast a spell, how crazily she wanted to see her again.
It was Astarion she'd seen first when she'd woken on that altar; he had, of course, been the one to pick the locks on her chains. It had been Sara who been there at hand, ready to help her up as much as she needed, even as she'd been blotched and sagging from flesh rot. And yet she had found herself looking so much at Shadowheart, also afflicted by the flesh rot, who'd looked back at her with relief, and a bit of a smirk, as if to say, "No, you're not getting yourself taken away from me that easily." All through the day that had since followed, as they'd returned to the Temple to avenge themselves on those left, and then fought other creatures and found that fool Mayrina again, she'd been shooting her similar looks, ones ever increasing in brightness.
There was a wild blaze for her now in Lae'zel's breast, one that that made the fire that had burned for Sara seem like a harmless flicker in comparison. She ached in the night for her pale skin, her slender body, what she might sound like in the throes of passion.
She drew herself up, and looked about for the two figures not on their couches. One of them was just by the window and drawn the curtain open, and she thought that to be Astarion; it was not the first time they'd seen him making an effort to watch the sunrise. The other was near the door, pacing back and forth, back and forth, and then huffed that familiar sigh, just loud enough for Lae'zel to hear.
Perhaps now she could get the answers she wanted, or at least get Shadowheart to admit to having a lover. Lae'zel wasn't sure that would douse the fire, when it hadn't directly in the case of Sara, but it seemed worth the attempt.
She got up, walked over to her, then asked, "Are you waiting for your paramour, now?" as calm and as cool as well as quietly as she could manage. "Even if did not sound like Sara wanted you to come with her today, it is a little late in the night for such things."
Shadowheart nearly jumped at her words, which surprised Lae'zel, since she knew the half-elf could see in the dark as she herself could. Then she snapped, "I'm not waiting for anyone," but she sounded very much like she was hiding something.
"Did they just leave, then?" Lae'zel asked. "You know Sara will want to know who they are just so she can confirm they are not a threat to us. It must be someone outside of our group, because I heard you come back alone last night."
"Oh..." Shadowheart gave her an exasperated look, then stepped towards the door and gestured. Lae'zel followed her out into the hall.
Once away from the others, she said, "You won't let this go, will you? Fine. I had a one-time thing with Halsin. You didn't hear him because he was in cat form when we came back. It was nothing serious. He said it couldn't be, that his heart was already taken by someone who didn't want it. He didn't say who, but I think I can guess."
Lae'zel thought she could guess as well. She had recognized the way he'd been looking at their leader on occasion. Arguably she was luckier, to know Sara Tully was not the only one she could currently feel that way about.
That she herself had wanted a similar encounter with Halsin, though she'd apparently very much asked for it at the wrong time, did not quell her jealousy enough. She still tried to keep her face as neutral as possible.
Still Shadowheart asked, "Why do you care so much, anyway? Do you still hate me so much you don't want me to have anything good?" Her voice actually broke, and Lae'zel could hear her pain, and she recognized it even before the cleric threw at her, "No, you know what, I don't care, because unless you're willing to fuck me yourself you have no right to demand..."
Lae'zel didn't let her get any further than that. She had the vague feeling just grabbing and kissing someone was generally considered rude or worse by Faerunians, but well, Shadowheart promptly started kissing back.
And oh, how she did. Lae'zel had one of her hands nearly pulling at her hair, another pressed hard against her back, Shadowheart's tongue nearly in her throat, her making little hungry noises that ignited her further. She herself was giving as good as she got, and Shadowheart was much less hurt than her, able to take Lae'zel's hands on her neck, all down her back and arms, even down onto her butt.
They broke apart, and for a moment they just looked at each other. "I was walking about like that because I was trying to work myself up to coming to you," Shadowheart said. "I wanted to so much last night, though I knew you weren't in shape for it then. Are you even now?"
"Do not mistake me for broken just because I am battered," Lae'zel growled at her in response, and launched herself at her for another kiss. She barely kept herself from biting too hard into the half-elf's more delicate lips, though at the press of her teeth against them Shadowheart made another sound that made it sound like she might not have even minded. When they parted this time, she looked over at the other door. "You two went in there last night?" she asked.
"We went back just outside the city, actually," said Shadowheart. "I think only Sara and Gale have used that room so far, although I suppose if Wyll ever decides he's made Karlach wait long enough they'll go in there, too. We certainly can as well." The two women practically raced each other to it.
The room's most recent inhabitant had apparently been a murdered duke, so the furniture was fancier. The bed had nothing on it at the moment, but Shadowheart went over to the wardrobe, lighting the candles as she went, and pulled out a thick blanket. "The tavern staff left the spare here, after they stripped the bloodied bed," she noted, "and I think they've been quietly coming in here every few days, taking away the blanket wherever Sara and Gale left it, and putting a clean one in its place."
They ended up throwing it onto the bed together. Then Lae'zel nearly threw Shadowheart onto the bed after it before climbing on top of her. Shadowheart's top had already come off, and she was pulling her leggings down; Lae'zel had already lost her own sleepwear.
Amid all the various bruises and other injuries they all bore, there were sharp, curved marks on her breasts, and on top of her thighs. Ones obviously left by claws. Lae'zel stopped short for a moment. "Those were not from those creatures we fought at the docks today, were they?" she demanded, trying to fathom it.
"Druids keep their wits about them while in wild shape," was Shadowheart's reply. "It's not really bestiality. Or at least, not the kind involving any creatures that can't consent." She then smirked. "Think you can't be that impressive?"
"I can be impressive enough," Lae'zel growled back, and her kisses got rougher. Shadowheart responded in kind. As she moved to get her first taste of the woman's skin, Lae'zel nearly raked her teeth across her jaw, then her neck. Not hard enough to mark her, just enough for her to feel it. Shadowheart's touches were more cautious, likely still worried about aggravating her injuries, but when one hand found Lae'zel head she felt its grip tighten.
Even with the claw marks leaving part of them likely untouchable without causing too much pain, Shadowheart's breasts were a delight to take into her mouth, the moan she let out when Lae'zel sucked still more delicious. Her hands here couldn't avoid all the bruises, but pressing very lightly on them brought out more groans. Underneath her, Shadowheart's legs fell open, and she started moving against her, looking for friction, leaving Lae'zel skin sticky with where she was already wet.
Lae'zel considered stopping her, maybe grabbing her arms and pinning her. But she thought too much of her own recent captivity, and no, she did not want this, tonight, to be like that. Besides, her hands had better uses. She might not have a bear's bulk or strength, but she imagined that no bear had her finesse.
The genitals of a female half-elf might not be entirely like those of a Githyanki, but when she got down and took a look, there seemed similarities enough. "How sore are you?" she felt the need to ask.
"Not as sore as you'd think anymore. Maybe don't go too hard? If you can keep yourself from that."
That last sentence had not been necessary, Lae'zel thought. "Watch me," she retorted, and then moved down to take her first taste.
She was, perhaps, gentler than she had ever been during sex. At least with her fingers; it would have been too easier to hurt her with her own claws, and in places even more delicate than where Halsin had clawed her the previous night. She was much more generous with her tongue, finding that sensitive nub of flesh and sucking on it harder and harder, making Shadowheart squirm and and gasp and clench around her fingers when she had them in her.
Nor, perhaps, had she ever quite taken this level of gratification in her partner's pleasure. She'd certainly seen to it that they got their share, of course, and sometimes felt pride or even her vanity flattered by their reactions. But Shadowheart's cries, her "Oh, yes, yes, that feels so good...oh by all the gods everywhere..." filled her heart, brought to her a fierce joy and warmth to flood her. Also heat to flood her nethers; Lae'zel herself was starting to squirm with her own need.
Thus she brought her to her release, Shadowheart keening as her body shuddered around her. Lae'zel lifted her head when she was done, and promptly found it seized and herself pulled up and once again kissed hard. "Oh, the things I could do to you right now..." Shadowheart murmured to her between her lips.
"Doing one of them would be a better thing for you to do instead of just speaking about it," Lae'zel informed her. Wondering if the other woman was afraid to so much as put her on her back right now, she rolled them over and felt Shadowheart's weight on top of her, warm and comfortable and absolutely nothing but welcome. "If you would just touch me..."
Shadowheart did then, her hand finding and rubbing between Lae'zel's legs, and when Lae'zel angled herself to try to shove those fingers into her, Shadowheart put them in, and here, at least, Lae'zel was not hurt at all, and she could go hard. And she went hard, and fast, shoving Lae'zel open deeper and deeper. She kept her gaze on her face, seemingly wanting to see it when the Githyanki succumbed to her pleasure, and Lae'zel did not attempt to hide from her, letting her mouth pant and her eyelids flutter, and with her thumb Shadowheart started to rub again, her eyes actually meeting Lae'zel's as she broke apart before them, crying out for her one last time.
Then Shadowheart shifted off her, and the two of them lay there, likely both aware that when they next looked at each other they'd have to deal with what they'd just done, and what it might mean. Lae'zel noted that while they'd been distracted, the sun had started rising; there was enough light coming through the window, now, to confirm that.
"I'm afraid they'll probably all know about this," Shadowheart said. "Even if the others slept through it, there's no way Astarion didn't hear us. Though we could hide here from them for a bit longer. I really don't think Sara will want me for today, and now that we've taken revenge on all your captors, she won't let you out of here again for a least another day or so."
"She will probably come check on us, if we are not there in time for breakfast," Lae'zel pointed out. "I would rather not have the conversation that would likely ensue under those circumstances, especially if the others decide to follow her in here. Still, we could remain here a little while longer. I have found I am interested in hearing more about what has gone on since I was taken. You say the devil Mizora has remained here even when Sara made clear she is not wanted, and you have not yet figured out how to get rid of her, but surely she must be getting bored. What has she been doing with herself here?"
"Actually, about that," said Shadowheart. "She'll probably proposition you sometime today. I know you may want to get offended and chew her out, but I'm pretty sure that would just amuse her. She went for Karlach first, and there's no way she thought she'd say yes, she must have just wanted the entertainment that was Karlach screaming at her about how horrible she was. I think Sara would've liked to do the same when she went for her next, but she was actually surprisingly restrained. Gale, on the other hand, was not. Although it's possible his lecturing of her annoyed her, especially when he got rather sappy. I hope it did.
Halsin, Jaheira, and I did at least know to make our rejections as short as possible when she came to us. But then we brought Minsc here, and you can imagine how that went..."
And Lae'zel was laughing. Her chest shook painfully with it. A good kind of pain, the kind that reminded her she was alive.
As she did, Shadowheart pulled herself up, and they were once again looking at each other face to face. "You know," she said, "I really like hearing you laugh."
And Lae'zel liked seeing her smile like that. "Kiss me," she said, a moment before thinking about it, and realizing that would be a continuation of things for certain.
But when Shadowheart leaned down and did so, they both went with it, each of them pulling the other against them as they shared lighter, sweeter kisses, Lae'zel even kissing the air a little when they momentarily parted. There were a pair of arms around her, and Lae'zel no longer fought her own longing to be held.