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Waterdeep winters were cold - snow settled over the city in a thick white blanket and from atop Gale’s tower, Astarion could see where the harbor had frozen over enough to allow ice skating on its surface. Though the nights were longer in the winter, Astarion preferred the warm and humid summer nights over these long cold winter ones. He never quite felt like he could get warm. Waterdeep was quiet in the winter too, the streets bustling less and less when they were filled with gray slush and icy conditions, as many of the wealthier denizens of Waterdeep moved south for the winter. Today, when the sun set over the Sea Ward, the cloudy sky barely allowing the colors to reflect off the icy landscape, Gale draped a heavy, fur lined cloak over Astarion’s shoulders and announced they were going out.
“It’s Simril, a Waterdhavian Winter Solstice holiday! A perfect evening for you to experience the city’s nightlife,” Gale explained, pulling his own coat over his robe. “There is eating and drinking and dancing in the streets and it's sure to be a beautiful night for stargazing.”
“Stargazing, huh? You Waterdhavians sure like to punish yourselves, spending the evening out in this brutal cold.”
“Come now, my dear, I promise shall keep you warm,” Gale said with a smile, wrapping a woolen scarf around Astarion’s neck to fulfill his oath. He gently pulled Astarion in closer with the ends of the scarf in his hands, pressing a warm kiss to his chilled cheek.
“I’ll hold you to it,” Astarion replied, unable to hide the smile spreading across his face even as he grumbled. Gale pulled back and straightened Astarion’s clothes before taking his hand and leading him down the steps of the tower onto the street of the Sea Ward.
“First, we head to the Tower of Luck,” Gale said, giving his hand a squeeze.
It was the longest night of the year and while Astarion had gotten used to the more deserted feeling of Waterdeep in winter, the streets were packed full tonight. Fires were lit all through the streets, different food stalls and craft merchants in little ramshackle stands on every corner. Silver and gold decorations hung from businesses and homes, cut into the shape of shiny stars. Musicians bundled in cloaks played their instruments for a short while before rewarming their chilled fingers by the fire and starting again.
They got distracted by a few musicians and merchants on their way. Gale dropped coins in the musician's cups as they passed and stopped to buy a few warm mulled wines at a stand. The taste still didn’t suit Astarion, nothing but blood tasted good, but the heated liquid spread through his body in a pleasant way that made him understand the appeal.
Gale’s face was flushed with the chill and the gently falling snowflakes caught in his hair and beard and melted on his face as they drifted down from the dark sky, each flake glittering in the firelight. As they passed by a stand, Astarion snagged a purple knit hat from a merchant’s stand; he considered simply swiping it before leaving a few coins in its place, far more than the thing could be worth. He didn’t need to steal things anymore, thanks to Gale and all his wizardly wealth. When they reached their location, standing before the immense white and gold walls that surrounded the towering Shrine of Tymora, Astarion pulled the hat down over Gale’s reddening ears. Gale’s returning smile was brilliant under the temple’s magical golden illumination.
“Perhaps I’ll need to keep you warm, my love. Now tell me about Simril. What sort of trouble are we to get up to at the Tower of Luck? Do you give gifts on Simril?” Astarion asked, resituating Gale’s hair after the hat had messed it up.
“No, no gifts usually, though I certainly appreciate this hat. It’s a holiday for stargazing. If you can see the star you were born under or your ancestors were born under, it's meant to be good luck.”
“What star were you born under? Is there a Dekarios family star?”
“I’ll show you when we get a good vantage point of the sky, I promise. We’re here at the temple to find your star chart, so we might search the sky for your good fortune as well. The priestesses only need your birthday to divine your star.” Gale pulled him towards the open doors of the temple, but Astarion dug his heels in. He could see them now, the few lines of people meeting with the priests and priestesses handing out circled star charts with Tymora’s blessing. The patrons walked away, their heads craned up towards the sky, seeking a year of good luck. He didn’t want to disappoint Gale and ruin his holiday, but…
“Ah, it's a nice thought, my love, but I’m afraid I no longer remember when my date of birth is…”
Gale stopped in his tracks, halting for a long moment to think. Astarion could practically hear the gears turning in his head.
“I should have known that. I got a bit over excited, it seems. Luckily, I have a solution. A bit of divination magic and we should know your birthday in no time.”
The truly convenient thing about being in love with a wizard was how many problems could be solved with a bit of magic. He’d occasionally wondered what day he was born, especially after they celebrated Wyll’s birthday down in Avernus a few months back. As it turned out, all he needed to do was ask. Astarion was finding more and more that Gale would always try to provide the things he asked for. He knew the man spent hours in his study researching a way to allow him to walk in the sun once more. The wizard was sweet and utterly dedicated - he deserved to be doted on, too.
“I should have asked you sooner,” Astarion said. “What more could I ask for, than a day that's all about me?” He grinned when Gale laughed.
“You deserve that and more, my dear. Now come along, this is a bit too bustling for me to complete a ritual spell.”
Gale pulled him along again, tucking their clasped hands into the pocket of his coat to keep them warm. They turned down a few alleys, looking for a place where the crowd thinned out a bit and came across a small courtyard where a few couples and families were dancing to the tune from a ragtag group of musicians. Seeing their clasped hands, the violin player gave them a wink and slowed down the tempo, changing the song to something slow and romantic.
“Mr. Dekarios, might I have this dance? The spell can wait a moment, I’m sure.” Astarion took a step away and gave a short little bow, squeezing the hand clasped in his.
“Well, Mr. Ancunin, if you take the lead, I may be able to do both at once.” Gale chuckled when he responded. Astarion gave him a little twirl, which made Gale laugh even more as he came careening into Astarion’s body, stumbling a bit as he went.
Gale put his hands around Astarion’s neck while Astarion tucked his under Gale’s coat, resting them gently around at his waist. Astarion guided him through the crowd slowly, to allow him his concentration. He soaked in Gale’s body heat as they danced, warmth spread between them with each swaying step to the music. The wizard closed his eyes, mumbling the words to a spell in an arcane language Astarion couldn’t comprehend, lost in his concentration on the ritual.
It gave Astarion a quiet moment to admire him, the way his mouth moved as he spoke the words, the feeling of power radiating from his form as the magic swirled around him. Sparking snow caught in his eyelashes as they rested against his cheeks and his fingers absentmindedly threaded into the hair at the base of Astarion’s neck even as he worked his magic. Astarion could not help but admire the way affection came naturally to him, even amidst his spellwork. He would lean in and kiss that soft mouth, if Gale wouldn’t grumble about having to start the spell over.
Astarion did not care for Waterdeep winters, but as the music played and they danced amongst this little crowd, Gale’s flushed cheeks graced with a soft smile, he found he did not mind the snow.
When Gale’s eyes finally opened, his spell complete, they glowed purple with powerful divination magic. His grin widened and he pulled Astarion in close, kissing him on the cheek before leaning in to whisper in his ear. His breath was warm.
“Your name is Astarion Ancunin. You were born the 6th of Mirtul, in the year 1229.”
Astarion thought he might stumble or trip, barely hanging on to a sense of balance as he danced through the crowd. Gale’s voice was soft but enhanced by the spell, like the truth of every word was undeniable.
“Your parents were Upper City folk, your father a magistrate much like yourself. He was very proud when you followed in his footsteps. Your mother was a seamstress by trade, though she spent more time at home with you after you were born.”
If Astarion concentrated, like something distant and lost in the back of his mind, he could picture an elven woman with white blond hair and golden eyes muttering to herself as she patched up a torn knee in his breeches, the sewing needle between her teeth as she finished tying off a knot. The image vanished as soon as it appeared and unbidden, a few tears formed in his eyes. Gale brushed one away with his thumb as it slid down his cheek.
“We’ll skip to the good stuff. Slayer of evils, hero of the Sword Coast, you and a band of misfit heroes destroyed Ketheric Thorm, Enver Gortash, Orin the Red, and Cazador Szarr - you yourself dealt the final blow to the Netherbrain as it threatened to overtake Baldur’s Gate.”
“Oh that doesn’t count, you were there for all that.”
“Shh, this is just what the spell has to say about how legendary you are. Now you reside with your also legendary lover in the city of Waterdeep, where you are to become the first vampire spawn to walk in the sun.”
“Oh, is that what the spell says?” Astarion asked as the purple glow faded from Gale’s eyes, leaving his usual brown ones staring back at him. Gale’s smile grew wider across his face and he pressed their bodies together, spinning them in an eager and excited twirl.
“Yes, yes it did. I must be getting close then, for such facts to already be a part of your legend. I’m going to succeed, Astarion. Perhaps our next outing will be in the daylight.”
For the first time, here in the snow under the Simril sky, staring at the love of his life, Astarion really believed that future would come to pass. Even in this awful chill, he could remember how the sun felt on his skin when the tadpole was lodged in his brain and how much better it would feel now, free of cruel masters and… in love, entirely. He pulled Gale in for a kiss then, one that made a few of the nearby children exclaim that it was gross.
“I shall await it with bated breath, my love.”
They left a few coins for the musicians in the square before heading back to the Tower of Luck. With his birthdate known, securing a star chart was easy enough and Gale refused to show it to him, squirreling it away in his pocket as they made their way to the docks.
The salty air was brisk coming off the frozen Sea of Swords, making Astarion shiver as it chilled his undead flesh. There were a few people staring up at the sky here, pointing up and comparing to the star chart in their hands. Gale walked them to the end of a short pier and sat down, patting the end of the dock next to him. Their feet touched the ice below as they dangled their feet off the edge and in the distance, Astarion could hear the waves roiling in the dark sea, where they were far too powerful to freeze.
“It’s miserably cold out by the water, Gale my love, couldn’t we look at the stars from atop your tower?”
“This is my lucky spot! Every year, when my mother and I came out onto this pier, we were just able to spot my star. Who am I to break tradition when it comes to matters of luck? Scooch in close, I promised to keep you warm.”
So Astarion did, scooching in close, tucking his fingers back under Gale’s coat and looking up towards the sky. With a quickly muttered spell, a bubble of warmth formed around the both of them that made Astarion sigh in relief. Earlier this evening, as the snow fell, the sky was dark and overcast but as Tymora’s luck would have it, the clouds were parting above them to reveal a starry sky. Gale unfolded the star chart, casting a light cantrip with his hand to read it in the dark evening.
“So, there are seven main constellations. Atop them all lies Mystra’s Star Circle, of which I am grateful not to be born under these days, though I used to lament it greatly in my youth.”
Astarion grimaced, resting his head on Gale’s shoulder to study the chart in more detail. He could see the circle of stars at the top, her magical crown in the sky. A clump of five stars was on the far left side, with the one in the center circled. That one must be his.
“The others are Lavarandar’s Lantern, The Arrow of the Gods, Auroth the Sea Snake, Jassa’s Dagger, the Eyes of the Watching Woman, and the Sleepless Knights,” Gale explained, tracing over each one with his finger as he spoke. The Sleepless Knights was where the circled star sat. Still, he didn’t push Gale to move towards his star - the man was enthused, explaining the star system in Faerun and Astarion enjoyed the cadence of his voice when he explained things, all of the information pouring from him like a torrent stronger than the Sea of Swords. It was sweet to listen to him ramble.
“I was born under The Arrow of the Gods. The astrologers say this makes me highly driven with a blunt personality. My star, in particular, is the one near the tip of the top arrow, pointing upwards. My mother always said it meant I was made for great things, for moving up in the world.” Gale dimmed his light cantrip and tilted his head back, pointing up towards the stars.
“And there it is. Not so hard to find this year. It seems I shall have good luck in all my research this year after all, if legend lore and the stars all agree I shall succeed in my endeavors.”
Astarion followed Gale’s pointing finger, watching him trace an intersection of three lines of stars, like three arrows pointing westward.
“It seems the stars have much to say about us. I’d say they were pretty accurate, hmm?”
“Oh, you think my personality is blunt, do you?”
“Now, I never said that. I think you were destined for great things, just like Morena,” Astarion teased and Gale gave him a little nudge with his shoulder.
“If the water wasn’t frozen solid here, I would push you in. Let's see, what do the stars say about you?”
“You were born under the Sleepless Knights constellation. Legend says the Sleepless Knights swore an oath to protect their king and stood vigil over the north, never sleeping or wavering from their duty. When their king passed away, the knights ascended into the sky to keep vigil over the North for an eternity. You are in luck, the Knights are easy to see this time of year.”
Gale took one of Astarion"s hands and guided it towards the sky, pointing to five bright stars that had just peeked their way through the clouds.
“Your star is the middle one, the stalwart leader of the band of knights. They say those born under the Sleepless Knights are very reliable and show a great deal of loyalty towards their friends and family.”
Astarion let his arm droop in Gale’s grasp, staring up into the glittering sky. The middle star of the constellation was brightest, like it was calling out to him - it strangely felt like it was his, but the story didn’t fit him at all. He was a cruel thing, selfish to the core.
“Yours seems to suit you much better than mine. I don’t know if ‘reliable and loyal’ really suits me and I don’t have a lot of… family, really. Not that I remember, anyways.”
Gale shook his head, giving Astarion’s hand a squeeze.
“I’m your family now, aren’t I? And I find you to be quite reliable and very protective. You make a wonderful Sleepless Knight, for I never have fear with you by my side. I feel quite stalwartly defended by you, my dear.”
Family. Is that what they were now? Here on the winter solstice, celebrating Simril together, it felt undeniably true, like legend lore was still cast between them.
“Will I be joining the Dekarios clan soon, then? And you said you didn’t do gift giving on Simril.” Astarion asked and he could see the flush on Gale’s cheeks deepen even in the darkness and the chill.
“I think Astarion Dekarios has a nice ring to it, don’t you? Still, you’d best act surprised when I ask the question, alright? It shan't be today, but… soon. I promise.”
If Astarion Dekarios was his future, he’d fight for that future until the end of his days. Perhaps, just maybe, the knights weren’t such a bad fit for him after all, when Gale put it that way.
“Alright, I promise I’ll put on my best acting skills. Now come here, you terribly sweet thing,” Astarion replied, pulling Gale in close to kiss him again. They stayed there a long while as the clouds finished clearing from the dark sky above - the glittering stars reflected off the dark icy surface around them in a beautiful display of winter splendor, but Astarion only had eyes for Gale. They kissed until their lips were bruised and fingers were icy cold, Gale pulling away and panting in the night air.
“Happy Simril, Gale Dekarios,” Astarion whispered. “You were right, I did enjoy this holiday, and you did well to keep me warm.”
“And I always shall, my dear,” Gale replied, and Astarion knew he truly meant it.