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Tav just needed a moment, a second, to herself.While the Shadowlands were hardly the most peaceful place she had ever been, with the curse slowly lifting there was something almost reassuring about the heavy weight of the fog. With the group ready to leave the next day for Baldur’s Gate, they had decided to take one more night of rest in the Last Light Inn before they left.The more Tav thought about it, the more she realized it was the first time that every member of their new group had universally agreed to something. They all needed a night inside, somewhere warm and peaceful. Thankfully now that Ketheric Thorm was gone, they could have a night of sleeping a little easier.It hadn’t been easy to slip away. As much as they all argued, without question they had come to love one another and the absence of one of the group was quickly noted.Still, Tav was used to having at least some time to herself.Astarion had still been awake as Tav moved to slip from the room, giving her a soft nod as she made her way to the bar downstairs. She liked Astarion, he seemed to understand her better than most of her friends had back at home. He felt like a brother to her know, and she knew that if anyone else noticed her absence if they woke up that he would protect her peace for as long as she needed it.Tav left her staff and her cloak in the bedroom and wore only her casual clothing as she made her way down the stairs. It was mostly quiet now, only a few hanging around the bar as Tav looked for a bottle of something to drink.There wasn’t much left since the celebration had cleared the Inn out, but eventually she was able to find a bottle of red wine that was covered in so much dust that the label wasn’t clear anymore.Bottle safely in hand, Tav gently tried the door just to the right of the bar. She had been in the room once before and it had been empty then. A few old beds, a few old cabinets. The door wasn’t locked, and she slipped into the darkness and closed the door quietly behind her.Tav felt the prickle of the weave across the back of her neck before the light bloomed in the room.“Oh, it’s you.”Tav turned on her heel, bottle of stolen wine clutched tightly in her hand as she spotted Rolan sitting on the edge of one of the beds.“Rolan,” Tav’s voice was breathless despite herself. He had taken her by surprise, and she hadn’t had enough time to conceal her shock, “hi.”“What are you doing here?” Rolan asked, though not unkindly, “I thought you’d be celebrating with all of your friends.”Tav took a step inside, took in Rolan’s frame and took a moment to consider why he looked so much smaller. Even sitting, he looked smaller than he normally did.It took a moment for Tav to realize the silver and red robe he normally wore had been taken off and left on the bed beside him. Much like her, he was wearing only his casual clothes, his long hair down from the typical twist he wore it in.“I needed a break,” Tav answered him honestly, “just a second to myself. I can leave you alone if I’m interrupting though.”“No, no,” Rolan sighed, “it’s fine. I suppose the least I can do is let you take the room.”“Stay.”Tav was just as surprised as Rolan that the word had slipped from her.“Stay?”“I assume you’re hiding from your brother and sister?” Tav asked as she moved to sit beside him on the bed, “just needed a moment alone?”“Yes.”“Do you like red wine?” Tav held up the bottle.“I’ve been known to enjoy a glass now and then,” Rolan offered her a small smile.“No glasses here I’m afraid,” Tav conjured a mage hand inside the bottle and pushed the cork out, “I only had the time to steal the bottle, not the glasses that go with it.”“The fearless and brave Tav, the hero of the grove, the one destined to be rid of the absolute, stole a bottle of wine?”“Yes, well, don’t tell anyone,” Tav took a deep sip from the wine and handed it Rolan, “apparently I have a reputation to uphold.”“That you do.”“Not by choice,” Tav bit back, “I’d rather spend my time back in Baldur’s Gate being one of many, rather than anyone important.”“Not enjoying the fame?”“No, not at all. I think you’re more suited to fame than I am.”They drank wine in peaceful silence, passing the bottle between them as they watched the little orb of light that Rolan had generated flicker before it eventually burnt out.“Can’t even do that right,” Rolan sighed.“What do you mean? The spell was perfect.”“Yours would have lasted twice as long. Your fireballs burn hotter, your mage hand is more dexterous. How am I meant to do an apprenticeship when everything I do is weak?”“First, your spells aren’t weak. Second, that’s what an apprenticeship is for, to learn. I’m only good at magic because I’ve been doing it for my entire life. I’m under the impression from your brother and sister that you’ve picked up magic later in your life. It takes time to learn, to tap into the weave and learn how to make it work with you. You’ll be fine, Rolan. Just make sure that you listen more than you speak.”“How do you know?”“I’m an Elf,” Tav shrugged, “if we know anything, it’s magic.”Rolan let out a sigh, “I’m not sure how right you are, but I appreciate the sentiment.”“Looks like we’re out,” Tav shook the bottle and set it on the ground when she found the wine was gone, “unless you want to steal another one.”“I don’t think a life of crime is for me,” Rolan joked softly, “thank you for sharing.”“You’re welcome.”Tav wasn’t sure what motivated her to reach out and pat the back of Rolan’s hand where it rested on his thigh. It was something she would do with all of those she travelled with, but she certainly wasn’t crossing the threshold of friend with Rolan yet.To her surprise, he didn’t move away. He did look down at her hand with an element of surprise, but after a moment of consideration he turned his hand over and took her hand in his properly.Tav squeezed his fingers, partially because it seemed like the appropriate thing to do, but mostly because she found that she wanted to. She understood Rolan, understood just how hard it was to perform under impossible standards set by people who didn’t understand how difficult life could be. Rolan hadn’t asked for magic, and Tav hadn’t asked to lead a group of misfits that had been abducted by mindflayers.Rolan’s tail flicked behind him, a twitch that Tav knew was interest from watching Karlach with Wyll.“I must say,” Rolan whispered, “your magic is beautiful to watch. You command it so easily, the weave dances around you.”The compliment carried weight, and Tav felt her cheeks heat as Rolan looked at her. Tav was relieved that the light had gone out, and she hoped that he couldn’t tell that her face was hot with the flush.“It’s almost as beautiful as that blush.”Shit.Tav laughed softly at being caught, “damn tiefling eyes.”She wasn’t sure where this was going, if it was going anywhere. Rolan’s tail was twitching behind him, restless and uneasy. Their hands were still clasped together tightly.The tension in the room grew, the small space feeling hotter as the seconds ticked by. Rolan’s tail moved closer before it wrapped over her hip, almost as if he was hugging her from the side.It was enough provocation for Tav to move. An easy twist, a kick of her leg as she straddled him and settled into his lap. There was a soft gasp from Rolan, but he reached for her hips regardless of his surprise.“Rolan?”“Yes?” he was close enough that Tav could almost feel his lips against hers as he spoke.“Can I kiss you?”“Please.” It was desperate, pleading, only one step away from a begging.Tav crashed into him, her lips pressing hard enough against his that she could feel the points of his teeth against her bottom lip. He was clumsy, unpracticed much like his magic, but she could taste his enthusiasm in each kiss.Rolan’s hands trembled against her hips, a cautious tug at the bottom of her shirt as he asked without words if he could undress her.“Naked,” Tav breathed out in a rush, “undress.”“You first.”Tav stood, pulled her shirt off dropped it on the floor. By the time her pants and her smalls followed, she glanced up to find that Rolan had managed to get himself stuck in his shirt with one of his horns.Tav reached for him, helping him free himself of his shirt with a laugh. Rolan laughed along with her, their hands fumbling over the laces of his pants until they could push them past his tail to leave them on the floor with the rest of their clothing.When they finally found the bed again it was with Rolan looming over Tav with a heated grin, “you’re even more beautiful than I thought you’d be.”“You’ve thought of me before?”“I’ve been known to indulge, between my studies, of course.”“Of course,” Tav pulled him in for another kiss, “show me what you think of.”Rolan seemed most comfortable with kissing, most confident, even though their teeth would hit together on occasion. His cock was hard and heavy between them, the length of it pressed to her lower stomach. Tav met each one of his kisses as she snaked her hand between them to start stroking Rolan slowly. His hips stuttered as she wrapped her fingers around him, a flash of magic across his skin as he struggled to control himself.“I’m sorry,” he gasped out, “I didn’t mean to.”“You don’t need to apologize to me for magic,” Tav pushed Rolan by the shoulder, guiding him onto his back so she could straddle him, “I understand the weave.”“Will you show me?”“The weave?” Tav asked as she started to roll her hips to tease her clit against the length of his cock, “what would you like to see?”“What does magic look like to you?”It was so easy to rock her hips and slip the tip of his cock inside of her, already slick from clumsy kisses. Rolan’s magic flared again as she moved, slowly taking each flared ridge of his cock insider of her. Where she had held her magic back before, this time she let her magic react. Where his was deep red waves of heat, hers clashed against it in bright blue sparks. Rolan stroked her sides, chasing the sparks as they moved over her body. She reached for him, guiding his hands as she let her body adjust.“You feel sensational.”“You haven’t seen anything yet.”Rolan’s smile was honest now, delighted as he looked up at her with admiration, “show me more.”“I’ll show you everything.”As clumsy as their start was, they managed to fall into one another like practiced lovers as their magic meshed. Rolan licked his thumb, pressed it over her clit as she rocked over him. The magic between them grew until the room was lit in a warm orange light with bright blue stars throughout. It crackled like static, clung to their skin and made their hair sway with the energy.Tav kissed him deeply as the pleasure built, and when she cried his name against his lips he followed behind her with a deep and relieved groan.Rolan’s magic faded first, the orange and reds fading into nothing before the small blue sparks of Tav’s magic fell from the air around them and disappeared before they hit the floor.Rolan held her close as they caught their breath, his arms around her back, his fingers in her hair, his tail wrapped around one of her legs.“Can I show you something?”“I think you just did,” Rolan joked.“I mean it,” Tav poked him, “consider it a magic class.”“I liked the last magic class, can we do that again?”“Rolan.”“Fine, show me.”“You know the candles in the room? You know where they are?”“I’m familiar.”“Light them.”“How do you suggest I do that? If I cast firebolt in here I’ll set the Inn on fire.”“I never said to use firebolt. I said light the candles.”“How?”“Because you will it to be so,” Tav kissed his cheek, “because you are full of magic and you just had this room lit up with the force of it. You are flame and heat and you command the weave. The candles will light because you told them too. Light the candles.”There was a pause, an awkward hesitation before a single candle in the corner burst into flame.“Yes,” Tav couldn’t contain her excitement, “again?”There was another, this one smaller but still lit.“That’s…exhausting,” Rolan admitted, but he still looked delighted at the progress,“Of course it is, but you did it.” Tav lit the rest with a passing thought, “you are magic, the weave will move with your will. You just proved you can do it.”“This has been an…illuminating evening, Tav,” Rolan turned to face her as she moved to stretch out on the bed beside him, “will you stay with me?”“I’m not going anywhere.”***They had spent the evening talking about magic, the way the weave worked and how it had called to them when they were young. Tav showed Rolan some of the smaller tricks that she knew, and he gave her a list of books that he loved. They had found the time to make love once more before they were too tired to do anything more than sleep.Knowing it was better to avoid the questions of Rolan’s siblings and Tav’s companions they woke up early and went their separate ways with nothing more than a quick kiss and secret smiles.Astarion was still awake when she snuck into the room, and he greeted her with a knowing smiled and a wink as she got into bed as if she had been there for the entire night.By the time the others woke up, Tav was able to pull herself from bed and play off her fatigue as a result of the fight the day before.Astarion elbowed her as they made their way downstairs, and she shoved him in response.Rolan, Cal, and Lia were at the bar, too. Readying themselves for the journey to Baldur’s Gate. Rolan looked tired, tired enough that Astarion picked up on it quickly and shot her a curved eyebrow in question. Tav humoured him with a nod, the admission wouldn’t hurt anything.“I was just wondering if I’d get to see you again before we were on our way,” Rolan called to her, “are your lot heading out?”“As soon as we’re fed we’ll be on our way. Off to your apprenticeship?”“That I am.”“As if you’re friends with the hero of the grove, Rolan,” Lia mocked him, “yeah right.”“We both know she has taste,” Cal added in.Rolan’s hurt was only obvious because they had shared the night together before. Tav picked up on the slight tug at the corner of his mouth, the self-deprecating grin as he gestured toward the door.“Well, safe travels.”“Rolan,” Tav caught his arm and stopped him before she reached up to his horn to pull him in for a kiss, “see you in Baldur’s Gate?”“That you will,” if Rolan was surprised he recovered quickly, “I’ll be waiting for you.”“Right behind you.”Tav watched him go with a sudden feeling of loss. Before he was completely from sight Rolan turned and offered her a wave that she returned.She would find him in Baldur’s Gate.“Wait,” Karlach said around a mouthful of pastry, “you’re fucking the grumpy wizard? Since when?”“Now Karlach,” Astarion thankfully drew the attention from her, “let a girl have her secrets.”