Chapter Text
Shadowheart
It was the shock of her life - or least what she could remember of it - when Shadowheart found herself falling into the arms of a Selûnite. Sure, it was merely to prevent her from making a harsh collision with the writhing floor below, but still, a Selûnite?! It couldn’t have been any more obvious, from the little moons that hung from her earth-toned ears, to the revolting deceitful eyes of Selûne adorning a silver broach that held the Selûnite’s cloak in place.
It was almost as shocking when Shadowheart awoke on a sandy beach, sun-bleached sand sticking in the most dishonorable of places, to the Selûnite - Juno apparently - hovering over her. The woman had offered pleasantries, and gently pushed the artifact securely into Shadowheart’s hand. Accepting the act of kindness and respect at face value made Shadowheart wince, in anticipation of punishment from Lady Shar in the same hand that held the artifact she was to return to Baldur’s Gate; yet none came.
Even stranger, was the fondness that had come so quickly for Juno. So much of her was inverse of Shadowheart, from a tender heart that stopped to ensure every refugee was well, to the caring smiles that adorned her lips when she stopped to chat at Shadowheart’s tent. She couldn’t lie to herself, it did make her a tad excited when her tent was the first place Juno would go when returning to camp. Shadowheart knew she had no business entertaining a Selûnite’s inquisition each night, but perhaps in regards to recent events and their temporary alliance, Lady Shar could overlook her indiscretion.
However, Lady Shar had other plans, as she often did.
A scouting mission ahead with Juno, in search of the goblin camp, had deposited them before a broken statue that stirred memories long forgotten from Shadowheart’s mind. It was frightening at first, an opened wound in her soul she hadn’t even known was there. Then, it had brought about pain in her very real wound that served as her taut leash held by Lady Shar. Shadowheart let out a soft cry, stepping back from the statue in a dizzied state.
Soon, the familiar pattern of Juno’s thoughtless, clunky steps drew near, reaching Shadowheart from the murky depths of her mind. “The gnome said we could have his pack if - Shadowheart? Are you unwell?”
“I’m fine. We should carry on.” Shadowheart replied brusquely. However, it was too late for that, as Juno found herself before the statue, beside Shadowheart.
“Selûne.” She offered in supplication, falling to a respectful kneel before the statue. “You didn’t tell me you found a place of worship to the Moonmaiden.” Juno offered an easy smile on her plush lips.
“Why would I? I suspected you worshipped this filth, but I hadn’t wished to see it. You can keep your pathetic lies, and blasphemy to yourself.” Shadowheart determined, stalking away from the statue. Before she could get far, Juno was on her feet chasing after her.
“Lies, and blasphemy? Don’t you think that’s a little harsh?” Juno asked, reaching forward to grab Shadowheart’s wrist, still singed with remnants of the pain Lady Shar had bestowed upon her in penance. The contact made the pain flare to new heights, prompting Shadowheart to forcefully push the other woman away.
“Don’t touch me, Moonwitch scum.” She bit, watching as the smaller woman lost her balance and fell to the dirt below. “If I’m being honest, I haven’t been harsh enough with you. You’re too familiar. Let us not forget that when our heads are free of these disgusting things, your blood is owed to the Nightsinger yet again.” Shadowheart said with a huff, reveling in the scramble the wood elf had to do to get to her feet.
“If you’re being honest…That’s rich from you. You haven’t given me a lick of honesty since we met. You’re only now admitting to perhaps the most obvious ruse ever.” Juno spat, crossing her arms akin to a child throwing a tantrum. It made Shadowheart want to throw her into the dirt again, but this time, on purpose. “I knew you were a misguided fool, devoting yourself to the most repugnant of goddesses, but I hadn’t taken you for cruel.” She finished, leaving Shadowheart alone before the broken statue. She looked back to the statue, then to Juno storming up, and offered a quick prayer to the Lady of Sorrows to offer guidance.
Juno
Juno wasn’t sure what to make of Shadowheart. From the moment they’d met, she’d been weary of the woman. It had been obvious to Juno from the moment the raven haired woman introduced herself as ‘Shadowheart’ that she served the Nightsinger. From the divine magic that radiated from her, to the prevalent Sharran symbology on her armor, she was clearly a servant of darkness.
It hadn’t stopped Juno from allowing her to join her and Lae’zel on the Nautiloid, nor had it kept her from gently waking the half-elf upon the beach after the inevitable crash landing of the Nautiloid. Juno realized quickly that she needed all the help she could get to rid herself of the Illithid Tadpole, such rivalries would have to be set aside; strangely, rivalry became an afterthought to the friendship she felt budding between them.
It was the deception that nagged at the core of Juno’s being.
Sure, she had secrets of her own; a persistent pulling of her strings that waved her soul around like a dancing marionette doll. However, Juno had never outright lied to her new companions. She did not keep herself shrouded in mystery, venomously lashing out on any who dared to get close.
Such behavior was petty, and beneath her. Only a petulant child lashed out when they didn’t get their way. Such behaviors may have suited the Sharran dogma, however, she would rise above it, as she was raised to do within her own Selûnite family.
When the petulant woman had finally decided to grace Juno with the truth, she couldn’t help but be irate. She had been so unashamed of her deception, unbothered by the implications of her nature, and unwilling to look Juno in the eye amid the revelation. Childish zealotry.
From that moment, Juno decided to meet petulance with petulance. She took every opportunity to praise the Moonmaiden before the Sharran, taking glee in her glares. Each eye roll, every scoff, gave Juno butterflies. It was a joy that tasted sweeter than the lips of her first lover, and one she would savor while it lasted.
Shadowheart
The way Juno carried herself ignited an intrepid, inexorable loathing within Shadowheart. There was no stopping the boundless irritation that flooded her mind when the Selûnite trailed ahead of her on their journeys. The cure to the Mind Flayer tadpole could not come soon enough. First, the infuriating woman insisted on allowing the Gith’Yanki to join them and promised to humor her every whim. No doubt the Gith planned on using the Selûnite’s soft nature to an advantage.
Then, the elf had insisted upon praying over the corpses of the petulant human man Aradin’s companions. The Selûnite prayer had racked her nerves as the wood elf knelt by each fallen adventurer, taking precious time out of their mission in the name of her vile, disingenuous beliefs. Shadowheart was certain the goal of the other cleric was to play the heartstrings of the others in her group rather than to actually help guide the souls of the fallen.
The final straw was the festering disgust that lingered in the Selûnite’s eyes when she discovered the truth of Shadowheart’s faith. The honeyed words that came from the Selûnite’s pretty pink lips spoke of an uneasy alliance in the face of danger. The soulful brown eyes, normally warm and inviting, spoke instead of revulsion. They narrowed upon Shadowheart’s gaze, hiding beneath furrowed eyebrows and an uneasy flickering.
Since that encounter, the Selûnite had become colder to her. Juno would avoid eye contact and often go about the day’s mission separately, offering the excuse that two healers were not needed. When they had traveled together, Juno had never failed to flaunt her disgusting faith in Selûne all about. Loud prayers to the Moonbitch, constant praising of her guidance, and always with a dreadful little smirk on her pretty pink lips.
The loathing had almost boiled over when Shadowheart overheard, well eavesdropped, a conversation between Juno and Wyll the previous night at camp.
“I don’t know how you do it, my friend.” The man had uttered to Juno when the pair thought no one was listening.
“What do you mean?” Juno had replied, clearly feigning ignorance.
“To set aside such a cataclysmic difference with another; to break bread with one whose beliefs are so renowned for their wickedness. Yet, you do not allow the juxtaposition to hinder your kindness. A feat indeed.” The man said, in his flowery tone so much like Juno’s.
“Oh Wyll, you’re too sweet. Thank you. Truthfully, it’s quite hard. But through benediction and faith, we will all survive these trials. Then, perhaps fortune will smile upon me and the Sharran and I will part ways peacefully.” Juno replied, in a hushed tone.
Despite knowing the conversation wasn’t meant for her, it had infuriated Shadowheart all the same. The way Juno had half their camp wrapped around her finger infuriated
Today was different, though. Juno had suggested that a larger party enter the Goblin camp, then split from each other upon entry. As the group made their way through the thick woods outside of their camp, Shadowheart couldn’t help but stare at the Selûnite.
Each step was calculated; she was sure of it. From the soft smiles, she offered to the captivated wizard beside her or the too-familiar touches she’d trace along the forearm of the horned warlock. The three of them were always sticking their nose in the business of others, nearly trampling one another to be the first to aid each wretch they came across. It would have been maddening if it wasn’t so admirable.
Still, it was plain to see it was goodness done out of a need to control. There had to be deception behind the intent of the Selûnite’s actions. Selûnite’s were not to be trusted, fools who couldn’t think or fight for themselves. Juno simply wanted to look good. In the end, her Sharran principles led Shadowheart to a pious honesty of her nature to her Dark Lady exclusively, with little regard for how the others viewed her. Or so she hoped.
Suddenly, Shadowheart became aware that the others had kept going while Juno lagged behind until she fell in step with her. Glaring over skeptically, Shadowheart caught sight of Juno’s flowing flaxen hair reflecting sunlight as it hung carelessly around Juno’s shoulders in thick locks. The long, unrestrained hair smelled softly of incense and jasmine as a gust of wind flowed through the wavy locks, gently jostling the golden locks. The air idly ran through her own, neatly plaited hair, creating a sway in her ebon-haired braid.
“Shouldn’t you be leading the pack, fearless leader?” Shadowheart mocked, earning a too sweet smile from the wood elf.
“I see no reason why we must be at odds, Shadowheart. If it is our faiths…” Juno began, before being cut off abruptly.
“It is our respective faiths. You made your feelings very clear.” Shadowheart replied, stepping forward with a quicker pace, hoping the Selûnite would take the hint.
She did not.
Juno sped up, finding herself at Shadowheart’s side, and earning a grimace.
“What do you mean? I told you I could look the other way. I do not hold your…Affliction against you.” Juno replied, in an impudent tone.
“Affliction?!” Shadowheart nearly shouted now, rage building inside her. She stopped in her tracks and sneered at the Selûnite. “It is no affliction! It is my faith! Lady Shar saved me, gave me a life, a purpose!”.
Juno stopped beside Shadowheart, and when the uneasy eyes of their companions fell upon them, Juno gestured to them to keep moving. They heeded her.
“You’re…” Juno looked pained as she spoke, like she was swallowing a bitter elixir. “You’re right. It is no affliction. I was merely being petty.” Juno offered in a hushed tone, earning naught but another glare from the half-elf.
“I’m glad.” Juno said simply with a curt nod.
“Glad for what?” Shadowheart challenged, crossing her arms.
“That Shar…Sorry…Lady Shar, saved you. Gave you purpose. Although it’s not the life I’d have chosen for myself, everyone needs a purpose.” Juno said, face notably absent of the sickly sweet smile she wore when talking to most. “And I’m sorry for how I reacted to your revelation. My Lady in Silver teaches to embrace all, and while we are not fond of your order, I did not need to revile you so. Perhaps a fresh start is in order between us…?” Juno said with a diminutive nervousness that Shadowheart hadn’t seen from the elf before.
“Fine. But once we are free of these tadpoles, we will go our separate ways. I do not relish the thought of putting you down, despite being the Selûnite dog you are.” Shadowheart said, continuing on in her stride, refusing to offer Juno a further glance.
The sound of the Selûnite’s skittering steps to keep up brought a smirk to Shadowheart’s lips.
Juno
“Moonmaiden’s grace…What they’ve done to this place is revolting.” Juno said aghast at the state of the Selûnite temple.
“I’d call it an improvement.” Shadowheart said beside her, taking in the vile and disgusting adornments the goblins had put in place.
Juno glared for a moment before addressing the group quietly, as to not be heard.
“Right, so there are three targets, and the Druid Halsin to find. Wyll and Karlach, eliminate priestess Gut and pick off whatever stragglers you can. Gale, Astarion and Lae’zel, find the druid. I will assassinate the Drow with Shadowheart, then we will convene to destroy the final target.” Juno said with a confidence that was infectious to the Sharran, despite her chagrin.
Each group took their orders and began to execute with haste, save for Juno and Shadowheart. The two exchanged a look, somewhere between nervousness and exhilaration.
“Are you nervous?” Juno asked with a slight smile.
“Sharran’s are trained to take on any task before them void of fear. Fear of pain and death holds you back. Unlike you, Selûnite. Fear is written all over your face.” Shadowheart said tersely.
“Right.” Juno said with a roll of her eyes, before gesturing for Shadowheart to carry on. Shadowheart knew this was due to her strength in stealth. Juno intended to mimic her steps to reduce their chance at being seen. Still, it felt good to have Juno defer to her. The wood elf was admittedly competent in many ways, so to be superior in this way befell a sense of satisfaction.
Shadowheart led Juno through the ruined temple, almost seamlessly. It wasn’t until the pair passed a small dimly lit room that Juno slipped on a loose bone and fell gracelessly to the stone floor.
The Selûnite’s face hit the stone, earning a delicate cry of pain that simultaneously set Shadowheart’s blood to boil, and made her stomach drop. When Juno raised her head, Shadowheart could see her nose was bleeding profusely.
“My goodness…What a beautiful sound.” A voice called from the room. Shadowheart stiffened, and slipped from the obscuring shadows to Juno’s side, hauling the woman to her feet. Her hands remained fixed to Juno’s arms, keeping the other woman close in the face of a threat. She glanced into the room Juno had fallen before, and saw a sort of altar with a strangely dressed man. A deep sigh came from her lips when she recognized this man as a follower of Loviatar. They were caught, and caught by a fool at that.
The man approached them, and Shadowheart let go of the other cleric, but remained close to her side. She’d have to let Juno try and talk their way out of this one.
“Oh! Well…Thank you! My friend and I will be going…” Juno said with a charming smile, despite the blood dripping down her face.
“I haven’t seen many aside from goblins here. Are you also here to assist with the prisoner?” The man asked, eyeing Juno with a hungry expression that made Shadowheart shift her weight closer to the wood elf beside her.
“What do you mean?” Juno asked, bewilderedly.
“Your tastes must turn to the exotic if you came here by choice.” The man said in a near flirtatious tone. “I was invited here to discuss pain and its intricacies but even I find these goblins to be crude and primitive. Pain without purpose is a terrible thing, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Appalling.” Juno said with an all too eager nod.
“You know the maiden of pain? How refreshing. But there is more to us than that. Yes, we worship her through pain, often our own. But it is an intimate and loving thing and one we offer up.” The man said, stepping closer to Juno. “If you would permit it, I could show you firsthand.”
“Go on - I think you’re due for a little penance.” Shadowheart said in a mocking tone, planting her hand on the flat of the elf’s back and pushing her forward. Juno stumbled forward, flashing a glare at Shadowheart that was so pathetic; she pitied the fact that she wouldn’t be the one to wipe it off her face.
Any words that were passed between the pair fell on deaf ears as Shadowheart watched Juno follow the priest, positioning herself against the cobbled brick wall of his quarters.
Shadowheart watched with mild intrigue, lingering toward the entrance of the dark room. Instruments of torture littered a battered wooden table, rusted and unkempt. A shame. Effective torture demanded respect for the equipment. It teetered between a need for precision, and brutality.
Juno had hands pawing at her padded armor, exposing the freckled flesh beneath to the priest, and to Shadowheart. Skin the color of freshly tilled soil contrasted against the pale hand of the priest. Shadowheart felt her heart quicken as the hand lingered a moment too long as it undressed the woman. She set her jaw and rested her hand upon the handle of the mace that hung at her side.
It was impossible to ignore the beauty of the woman’s lean muscled back, with long golden hair cascading down as a cloak might. That too, was discarded. Tucked behind her shoulder, Juno’s thick ringlets fell over her freckled shoulder. The skin of her back was unmarred; but judging by the hungry gaze in the priest's eyes, that was soon to change.
Juno
Juno was bracing herself for the first strike, teeth clenched, eyes shut, and knuckles white. Yet, it never came. Instead, came the thump of a body hitting stone, and a cold hand lacing her armor up from behind, vanquishing her skin from the frigid air.
Stealing a glance backwards, she found Shadowheart, a slight blush on her cheeks as she tied the armor into place, obscuring Juno’s back.
“I thought I deserved a little penance.” Juno asked, carefully.
“There are so few with such an unmarred canvas on their back. It would be shameful to grant the honors of deflowering you in such a way to a amatuer like that.” Shadowheart replied in a tone that betrayed nothing beyond stark pragmatism. Juno had learned quickly that such comments from Shadowheart was a carefully crafted guise for her sense of concern, likely a treacherous expression of empathy in the eyes of her Dark Lady. Such a token of earnest care was a boon not to be readily discarded.
Adjusting her light armor, and flicking her hair behind her back, Juno cleared her voice before speaking.
“While your reasoning may be dour to say the least, I am still grateful you took the opportunity to dispose of that fool. One less fool serving some vile goddess running around, I suppose.” Juno’s face fell when Shadowheart’s brows furrowed in disapproval, “No slight on your company, however. I mean, other vile goddesses. Not your…You know what I mean.” Juno relented, having shoved her foot so far back in her own mouth, she could almost taste the leather.
“We have a Drow to put down.” Shadowheart replied, turning from the unconscious man, to dip back into the darkness of the temple.
When the mace of Nightwarden Minthara crashed down on Shadowheart's shield, the Sharran seized the moment to redirect its force to buck off of her. Thus, it brought the Drow in a driving momentum toward the smaller elf, Juno, who was fighting for her life with what felt like a glorified stick in that moment.
Juno frantically brought the end of her quarterstaff upward in crack to Minthara’s ribs, that brought forth a harsh thud. The Drow grunted, and followed the strike with a bash of her shield to Juno’s face. Copper immediately rushed to her mouth, before stars were conjured behind Juno’s dazed vision.
A moment later, she was laid on the stone ground, eye level with the goblin she had slayed beside Shadowheart, before launching an assault from the shadows on Nightwarden Minthara. Above her, stood Minthara, a self-satisfied smile on her cruel lips as she stared down at Juno’s sprawled out form. Then, a flash of steel gave way to a vicious strike upon Minthara’s head.
“Get off of her!” Shadowheart bit, face twisted into an expression of unbidden anger. The words seemed to echo in Juno’s mind, as though she were latching onto them like an escape rope from her rattled wits.
A spray of blood from the Drow’s head brought a grunt of pain from her thin lips, as she turned to face her adversary. A woozy Minthara stared down Shadowheart, who carefully avoided the haphazard swing of Minthara’s mace as it threatened to split Shadowheart’s pretty face in two.
“Stop lazying about and help me!” Shadowheart commanded, rousing Juno from her stupor.
The wood elf clambered to all fours, the world still spinning far too much to test standing. Before her, she could see Minthara and Shadowheart in a stand off, the first to strike apt to be struck down. It was up to Juno to tip the odds in Shadowheart’s favor.
Clambering forward, Juno threw herself at the Nightwarden’s legs, knocking the dark elf off balance, and to the cold stone floor beside her.
“Kick her! Kick her!” Juno panted, squeezing Minthara’s legs together while the Drow bucked like a wrangled Deep Rothe.
“Don’t you dare, I am-” Minthara began, before a frantic boot found her nose, stealing the Drow’s consciousness.
Letting go of the limp form of the Drow, Juno rolled onto her breath and let out a heavy sigh.
“We did it.” Juno relented, before a rough hand bunched into her armor, yanking her to her feet.
“I did it.” Shadowheart said with a scoff, steadying Juno as she fought for balance. “You proved to be adequate bait though.” She finished, pushing the strands of hair that fell into the other cleric’s face away, tucking them behind a pointed ear. “Come, let’s find the others. There’s still the Hobgoblin.” Shadowheart affirmed, dwelling deeper into the temple. Juno couldn’t stop herself from blushing as the cleric walked ahead of her, or from noticing for the first time just how good the other woman looked when she was walking away from her.
Shadowheart
When they found the others, Shadowheart found herself sticking close to Juno still, unwilling to relent the wood elf’s guard to another member of their no-so merry group. She preferred to be close to the other cleric. Perhaps it was the light scent of jasmine that clung to her golden locks, or perhaps the gentle smiles she offered every blossoming flower, or fluttering bird. Though, there would be no gentle smiles in this place of death, and disgust.
Moonwitch idolatry covered just about every surface, while goblin feces - which Shadowheart found to be preferable to the Selûnite filth - covered the rest. When they entered the chamber of Dror Ragzlin, it proved to be just as revolting. From the dead Mind Flayer, to the staring faces of close to a score of Absolute cultists and Goblins, the rancid smelling chamber made Shadowheart’s stomach churn.
Not a moment was wasted posterizing with the Hobgoblin, as when they entered, the wild-shaped form of the druid, Halsin, charged the goblinoid fiend. Astarion and Shadowheart made for the dark out cropping around the chamber, while at the pull of Shadowheart’s firm grip, Juno followed. Karlach and Lae’zel met the goblin, and their leader head on, while Gale launched a flurry of magic missiles, covered devoutly by Wyll, who let loose his own barrage of crackling red Eldritch Blasts.
Astarion joined the fray with an onslaught of unforeseen arrows, sneaking their way between the taut armor of the goblins, rendering them lifeless where they had stood.
“Set them up, I’ll knock them down.” Juno demanded, sticking close to Shadowheart’s side. It took the Sharran a moment, but then the intent of the Selûnite became clear - by light or by darkness, they would vanquish any who stood before them.
With a brilliant mote of a guided bolt of radiant energy, Shadowheart hit a human cultist with a brutal, pious flame. A moment later, a divine flame licked the cultist's form, until he succumbed to the sacred flame, and guided bolt.
The pair repeated the process, then on a human woman, then finally a goblinoid warlock. When the warlock fell limp, they realized they’d picked off the final foe. The halls of the once sacred temple of Selûne were quick save for the occasional drip drop of blood on the stone.
Looking around, the women realized they’d won the day. Their gazes fell on each other as tentative smiles found their lips. Before Shadowheart could stop her, the wood elf was squealing with excitement, and wrapping Shadowheart in a tight side hug. Fighting the urge to push her away, Shadowheart relented, allowing the contact to continue. With a sigh, Shadowheart pushed Juno away, offering a coy smile.
“Don’t get too excited; we still have these disgusting creatures in our heads.” Shadowheart relented with a weary sigh, as the others tended to pilfering the pockets of their slain foes.
“Is there any harm in appreciating what we’ve done today? We were unstoppable!” Juno said, excitement bursting over into her tone.
“I suppose there’s no harm in it.” Shadowheart replied, wondering to herself if there was any harm in denying herself the butterflies Juno’s radiant smile released in her stomach.
The party was not something Shadowheart ever saw herself enjoying, but the sight of her new friends partaking in a night of joy was strangely satisfying. The most satisfying image of all was that of Juno’s smile as she chatted with each and every tiefling they’d saved, from the singing bard to the stuffy night guard. The moonlight pooled so beautifully on the earth-toned skin, and golden locks that befit the other woman so well. Shadowheart couldn’t help but stare. When she stopped at Gale’s tent, she felt her fingers tighten around the goblet she wielded, heart thumping in her ears. His gaze traced her movements nearly as much as Shadowheart’s did, and twice as clumsily.
It had been too much to bear, watching Gale and Wyll fawn over every good deed performed by the pompous Selûnite. She had the men like puddy in her hands, falling over themselves in perfect harmony to Juno’s act. However Shadowheart knew there was darkness in Juno, it was there in the distant look in her eyes when they’d stricken down the hag, and again when the Shadow Druids fell under the radiant flame of the cleric’s piety, a slight smile on her lips as they burned. Unlike the soft hearted men, that darkness didn’t scare Shadowheart, in fact, she found it enthralling; and that was why unlike Gale, she received the longing stares in return from Juno.
It was inevitable that she should smile when Juno was before her again, sitting at the stool at the edge of her tent as though she belonged there. She hadn’t bothered to ask, nor had she spoken at first, rather, she enjoying the ambient sights at sounds of dancing refugees, poorly played lutes, and raucous laughter, in contented silence beside Shadowheart.
To boot, it had seemed even more inevitable when she found herself sitting between her legs, head resting on the soft flesh of Juno’s thigh. There, they chatted for a few moments, enjoying an unspoken intimacy that was a fledgling experience for Shadowheart. Never had sat so close to another - that she could remember - for anything beyond carnal lust. To boot, she found it as easy as breathing to sit in the quiet comfort of another’s presence.
When Juno rose to leave, likely to offer that effervescent smile of hers to another lonely soul, Shadowheart coiled her alabaster fingers around Juno’s wrist, pausing the wood elf from leaving her side.
“Share a bottle with me?” Shadowheart blurted out, unwilling to let the moment pass away into oblivion.
Juno stammered for a moment, tripping over her words and blinking rapidly before settling for an affirmative nod and a toothy smile. “I’ll come find you when the others are asleep.” She managed, with a pitifully eager look about her.
“Best not keep me waiting. I prefer not to have to entertain myself.” Shadowheart replied, quite content to watch Selûnite squirm.
Juno
It was strange to Juno to find herself all too eager to throw herself before a Sharran. They were supposed to be the ones tripping over themselves for punishment, but here she was, climbing a literal waterfall for the chance to salivate over a sworn enemy.
By the time she reached the top, she knew there was no going back from this moment. Shadowheart’s verdant gaze found her as she clambered atop the waterfall, breathless and flushed. There was such unexpected joy in those eyes when they fell on Juno, she couldn’t help but mirror it in a wide smile.
“You made it - Come here. Sit with me.” She offered, with a softness to her demeanor that Juno wasn’t used to - but she could very, very easily become accustomed to.
Sat beside Shadowheart, the scent of her prayer incense clinging heavily to her hair, Juno soon found a half-filled cup of a plum-colored liquid in her cup. It pooled in a soft swirl, inviting her to imbibe in all of heart’s desire; right or wrong be damned.
“So- what did you have in mind for tonight?” Juno asked, running a hand through her thick golden locks and looking anywhere but at Shadowheart. She couldn’t allow the other woman to see the blush that had risen to her cheeks.
“Well, to begin, I think a toast is in order. Any suggestions?” Shadowheart asked, lulling Juno gaze back to her. She appeared breathtaking in the night air. The gentle breeze from the flowing waterfall slithered through her ebon locks, while the moon’s light bathed her in a glow that brought a superlunary grace to her pale features Juno couldn’t look away from. Then, panic began to fill her. She shouldn’t be looking at her like that! Nor should she be having those thoughts! Sure, Shadowheart was beautiful, but she was Juno’s enemy, drawn at a temporary truce! Shadowheart embodied everything Juno fought to protect against, and she was…Staring at Juno with big green eyes filled with the gentlest upon gentle of hopes.
“...To friendship.” Juno managed, forcing her gaze away, but not before she caught Shadowheart’s face fall.
“Right. Friendship.” Shadowheart replied in a clipped tone.
The wine couldn’t have been more of a relief, as Juno banished away the mental images of lapping up Shadowheart’s womanly flavors like the very last drops of wine in her goblet, not to mention the desire to feel her liquids dribble down her chin like the rich wine that passed through her lips.
“Now tell me something about yourself. And no Selûne, Lady Shar, dragons, goblins, anything like that. Tell me something about you.” Shadowheart prodded, pulling Juno from her disastrous thoughts.
“Oh! Well, not many people ask about me.” Juno admitted, staring into her nearly empty goblet.
“I find that hard to believe. A woman like you? Surely plenty of folk have thrown themselves at you, chomping at the bit for the tiniest sliver of your attention.” Shadowheart challenged, nudging Juno softly.
“Well, in a way.” Juno admitted with a heavy sigh. “Mostly people just wanted my family’s money.” Juno added, gazing to the moon above, hoping for the grace to open herself up to Shadowheart’s curiosity. “I’m from the Upper City. My family - they’re very wealthy merchants. Cartographers.” Juno admitted, an embarrassed flush coming to her cheeks. There was no way she was beating the ‘coddled Selûnite’ allegations from Shadowheart now.
“What’re they like?” Shadowheart asked ponderously, not a hint of judgement in her voice.
“Kind. But out of touch.” Juno said with a laugh, “There’s a reason I was traveling along the Risen Road by myself when the Mind Flayers got to me.” Juno looked at Shadowheart and offered a sheepish smile, “Plus, for being family they sure know how to hold a grudge. Anyway-” Juno said, clearing her throat as though it could exorcise the thought of the Tavlin’s waiting for her in Baldur’s Gate from her mind. “That’s enough about me, and my dreary merchant girl dilemmas. I’m sure it pales in the shadow of your life. Tell me something of your life.” Juno insisted.
“I wish I could - truly. But I can’t remember much at all. Boring, I know.” Shadowheart replied, a wistful sadness.
“That’s not true!” Juno said, taking Shadowheart’s hand in her own, offering a gentle squeeze. “You like Night Orchids, and you can’t swim.” Juno declared, remembering watching Shadowheart nearly drown at the clawed hands of the coven of harpies outside the Emerald Grove.
“You remembered - that’s sweet.” Shadowheart replied, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
“One of us has to.” Juno replied, eyes lingering a bit too long on Shadowheart’s lips.
Shadowheart
The wine wore off, but the desire to feel Juno’s lips against hers remained, unfettered by the lack of alcohol in Shadowheart’s system. After hours of quiet conversation, there was little Shadowheart wanted more than her. There had been so much she yearned for, to become a Dark Justiciar, to serve Lady Shar above all of her other followers, to be free of the damned tadpole in her eye; but above all she yearned for something for herself, she yearned for the woman beside her. Shadowheart had shared all in which she yearned for with the Selûnite - even her desire to hold Lady Shar’s favor as a Dark Justiciar. The other woman had taken the revelation in stride; Shadowheart could only hope her yearning for Juno herself would be met with the same acceptance.
“Nearly light. The others will be awake soon.” Shadowheart said, unable to meet the gaze of the other woman as she spoke. Juno's expression would be of ambivalence, or desire, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready to risk seeing the former.
A gentle squeeze to her hand brought Shadowheart’s gaze to where her hand was clasped into Juno’s. Looking up with a smile, she found the wood elf gazing longingly at her.
“What?” Shadowheart asked coyly, as though the heart of the matter wasn’t written all over Juno’s freckled face.
“Just checking for signs of ceremorphosis.” Juno said, snaking her hand away and clearing her throat.
“Oh, I’m perfectly fine, but the mood is well and truly dead.” She bit, glancing at the dusky sky above.
Juno sighed, shuffling as though she meant to leave, to discard the moment thoughtless and let it flutter to the wind like all the other little moments in time lost to Shadowheart. Instead, she reached for her wrist, imploring the Selûnite to indulge her for a moment longer.
“Thank you for tonight.” She added curtly, her wanting gaze locking the other woman in place.
“There’s no need to thank me.” Juno replied with a nervous laugh that died on her lips as she seemed to pick up on the invitation in Shadowheart’s eyes. Shadowheart couldn’t help but feel her heartbeat pick up in a rapid tempo as Juno’s eyes fell to her slightly parted lips.
“Well deserved, though.” Shadowheart replied, hoping the words would be the snare that brought their bodies just a bit closer. How badly she wanted to taste her, to spell that short and sweet name of her with her tongue against every patch of exposed skin she could get her tongue on. Yet, there was something so much more satisfying about the other woman coming to her. It would be sacrilege to submit herself to one of the Moonwitch’s ilk, but so delicious to have a Selûnite submit to her, and her will.
“Right well, best to get ready for the day ahead. Back to business, so to speak.” Juno replied, clambering to her feet. “I’ll see you back at camp.” The Selûnite finished, offering a curt nod before descending down the waterfall.
Shadowheart watched her go, more than a little disappointed at the way things had gone. She'd felt something between her and the other woman, that was by no means hers alone. She could so easily picture herself with Juno, anywhere but the rough wilderness along the river Chionthar. Perhaps stumbling over each other on the way home from a tavern, or holed up in some cottage somewhere, far from the grasping hands of divinity. Shadowheart winced, as with that final thought, her hand began to glow, unleashing a fresh torrent of pain for tugging on her leash.