A Ring of Gold for the Heart of Iron

“Come on, this way,” Aym said quietly. Her hand held tight to Karlach’s as she led her girlfriend through the lower city. She had asked her to come dressed nicely but had been very tightlipped as to what exactly she was taking Karlach to do. Though, she was fairly certain others in the camp may have caught on. She hadn’t exactly been subtle with the emergency run to the Glitter Gala a few days earlier. But none of that mattered now, not when she finally had the chance to spend a little alone time with Karlach. 

“Where are you taking me, darling?” Karlach asked with a laugh. 

“Just a little further, I promise,” Aym teased, leading Karlach through the winding streets away from the teleportation sigil. She led Karlach along into Bloomridge Park, the area largely abandoned now as night began to settle over the city. Tugging on Karlach’s arm, the couple approached a picnic blanket set out on the grass. Atop the blanket sat a basket, with Aym’s wolf companion nestled around it. 

“Thank you, Lupus,” Aym said as they approached. The wolf lifted his head, allowing Aym the opportunity to give him a few pats before he dispersed into the wind. 

“Using a wolf to guard our dating spot, clever,” Karlach said with a chuckle. 

“Seemed like the smartest idea. Didn’t want anyone walking off with my basket. Would have made this a much less entertaining evening.” Considering the secret contents held within this basket, Aym had thought about stationing her bear here instead, but she felt a wolf would be of less interest to any guards that wandered by.

Aym pulled out a candle and set it on a stand in the middle of the blanket. Before Aym could even grab a match to light it, Karlach swiftly reached forward and pressed the wick between her fingers, causing a flame to ignite. Aym grinned as the flame flickered in the wind. “Thank you, dear.” 

“Can’t believe I scored a second date with someone as beautiful as you,” Karlach said with a grin. “And a picnic no less! Did you make this all yourself?”

Aym set out some of the food she’d prepared as she spoke. “Most of it. Wyll and Gale chipped in a bit too. Wanted to make sure the food was tasty but could be comfortably eaten at a park like this.”

“Wyll and Gale helped you with this?”

“Look, my options aren’t exactly plentiful. Do you really think I could have gone to Astarion or Lae’zel for help with this? Though, admittedly, Wyll was primarily the one to help me with the food preparations.” Aym gestured to the candle set before them. “Gale just enchanted this candle to not tip over and not burn out until I say the magic word. A worthwhile contribution to the enjoyment of our evening, I’d say.”

Karlach tilted her head back and let out a loud laugh that echoed around the park. Aym watched, completely enamored as the most beautiful sound she’d ever heard filled the evening air. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to thank them for that later then. But for now…” Karlach leaned closer, taking hold of Aym’s chin with her fingers, and pulled her into a kiss. Warmth flowed into Aym’s body as their lips met, shaking off the chill of the night air. Her lips tasted earthy and slightly sweet, like nutmeg. 

Karlach pulled back after a moment, holding Aym’s face close as they both caught their breath. “Gods, I could kiss you all night,” she mumbled, “but then all this lovely food you made would go to waste.”

“I wouldn’t mind,” Aym said, wagging her tail. “Your lips taste better than anything in that picnic basket.”

“Ho baby, you’re giving me chills.” Karlach leaned back in and stole another quick kiss before releasing Aym. “But I will not let your hard work go to waste. Come on, show me what you’ve got.”

“Oh, nothing special. Just some sandwiches using some of that grilled pork we had saved, some of that infamous wizard’s cheese, sausage rolls, apple slices, a bit more stuff that we can get to as we work through it all,” Aym listed with a wave of her hand. “Oh and of course,” she pulled a large bottle with two glasses out of the basket, “wine. It’s not a picnic without it after all.”

“Naturally,” Karlach said with a wag of her tail. “Did you leave the boys with any food for the evening?”

“Caelen can cook for them, it’ll be fine. Just so long as he doesn’t notice I swiped this bottle from his stash. Then our lovely evening might be interrupted by a very angry warlock.”

“Well thankfully, that is a risk I am willing to take. Hand it here.” Aym passed the bottle over to Karlach, who easily removed the cork with her long nails. She poured the wine into the glasses and held hers up in the air. “Cheers, my darling, to a lovely evening picnic.”

Aym giggled and raised her glass as well. “Cheers to that!” They clanked their glasses against each other before each took a draft of the wine. “Oh gods this tastes expensive. Hope I didn’t grab an important one.”

“You didn’t fucking check?” Karlach asked with a laugh.

“I don’t know the first thing about wine to check!”

“Well, it couldn’t have been too expensive if Caelen hasn’t smote us with an Eldritch Blast yet. But, just to be safe, we should make sure to empty it before heading back to camp,” she said with a wink.

Aym giggled in delight. “Of course, naturally. Have to hide the evidence.” She took another drink of her wine before starting in on some of the sausage rolls. “So what’s it like being back in the city? Seeing old friends and the like?”

“It’s… a lot of mixed emotions, soldier. It’s great seeing old faces again, don’t get me wrong, especially when I’ve got a real beauty of a girlfriend to show off. But seeing Fytz again, finding out she’s married and got a little one on the way, I just… wish I had been there to see it all.” Karlach looked towards the city as she spoke, a forlorn look in her eye as she mused on all the things she had missed during her decade trapped in Avernus. “And now because of this damn engine, I’m going to miss even more of it.”

“At least you’ll get to have dinner with them before…” Aym trailed off in silence. She couldn’t bring herself to say it. It hurt too much. 

Karlach turned her gaze back to Aym and offered a solemn smile. “I suppose that’s true. I damn well deserve that at least. And I got the opportunity to introduce you to my folks, well sorta. Every gal’s dream, right?”

“For what it’s worth, they sound like very lovely people.”

“Oh yeah? Good. Because they were the fucking best! No offense to your parents, I’m sure they were great too. But the Cliffgates were the best parents in Baldur’s Gate, maybe even all of Faerun. And I know they would have loved you.” Karlach’s smile turned into a wide grin that stretched from ear to ear. 

Aym blushed and laughed a little. She was so pretty when she grinned like that. “Oh, I don’t doubt that for a second. My folks were pretty great too though. Might give the famous Cliffgates a run for the title.”

“Is that a challenge?” Karlach leaned forward a bit. She picked up one of the pork sandwiches and gestured for Aym to continue. “Go on then, tell me about them. I want to know what makes you think they’re qualified to oust my parents as the best.”

“Well, Mama and Papa Ourydajyr were weaponsmiths. They ran a shop together in Elturel. Made some of the finest weapons the Hellsriders ever wielded. Mama handled all the metalwork while Papa was the woodworker. Made all sorts of stuff like swords, scythes, and bows. Taught me a bit too, particularly with bows since archery was what I seemed most naturally gifted at. Needed to know how to restring my bow in a pinch, stuff like that.

“They were a part of the local community too. Helped out where they could. Had a lot of strangers crash at our shop over the years for a while until they could find somewhere to stay or get back on their feet. Cycled through employees too for similar reasons. Helped my best friend get the money they needed to go to college too. They’re off studying ancient deities and the like at one of the best colleges in the world now because of it. Really supportive of my trying to become a Hellsrider too. Papa was a bit tough on me at times, but I think they both just wanted what was best for me.” Aym paused for a moment as she happily mused over the memories before looking up at Karlach. “I think they really would have liked you. Maybe even made a big axe for you.”

“You really think so? They would’ve liked me?” Karlach asked, wagging her tail a bit as small flames licked her shoulders. 

“Well, yeah, of course!” Aym took another drink from her wine and closed her eyes as she imagined the scenario in her mind. Using her tadpole, she pressed up against Karlach’s mind, inviting her in to view the scene. 

“I’d bring you by the shop, our tails intertwined as I showed you around the streets of Elturel. You’d be nervous, not sure exactly what to expect from them. We’d go in, be greeted with their warm smiling faces, and I’d excitedly introduce you as my girlfriend. Mama would be taken with you immediately. She’d see how strong yet gentle you are, and she’d love your enthusiasm. She would know you and I would pair well together, that you’d protect and care for me as I would you.

“Papa would need a bit more convincing, or at least he’d act like he’d need it. I’m his only daughter, after all. He’d have to act the tough fatherly role to ensure his daughter was in safe hands. He’d probably grill you a little, test how much you really liked me. Nothing serious, aside from perhaps a mild threat from a sword that I doubt would phase you much. 

“Hearing your story, they might have their doubts about your character. Papa might pull me off to the side, ask me if I’m sure about you. I’d say yes. He’d press me, make sure I’m really committed. I’d still give my unwavering yes. He’d see the love for each other in our eyes and be satisfied, knowing we’d care for each other until the end. And then he’d ask me if you were the one I wanted to…”

An image flashed through Aym and Karlach’s minds briefly: the secret contents of the picnic basket. Aym hadn’t meant for it to happen but the topic of discussion had let it slip through the cracks and find its way into Karlach’s mind. Karlach’s eyes fluttered open and she briefly glanced towards the basket, looking as if she were debating saying something. 

Aym’s face flushed with color and she flicked the tip of her tail around nervously. “A-Ah shit… guess the tressym’s out of the bag. And here I was hoping to be smoother about it.”

Karlach’s face lit up, flames turning blue in excitement at Aym’s confirmation of the brief passing image in her mind. She quickly took in a deep breath, trying to quell them. “No no, please keep going. I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything, I promise.”

“You say that but you’re burning brighter than the sun right now,” Aym said with a laugh. She reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a small black box. “Well, I suppose to finish that thought, Papa would ask me if you were the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I’d tell him yes, without any hesitation. That no matter where it was, in Baldur’s Gate, on the road, or even in the deepest pits of Avernus, I’d happily spend the rest of my days with you at my side.” 

“I’d tell him the same,” Karlach answered with a wide smile. “That there’s no one I’d rather be with than you.”

Aym couldn’t keep her tail from wagging with excitement as her face burned with color. “K-Karlach! You didn’t even let me open the box yet!”

“Oops!” she laughed, filling the air with that beautiful sound again, “Sorry, sorry, please continue.”

Aym moved a bit closer to Karlach, clutching the small box between her hands tightly. “Karlach, I know our time together is limited, but… you’re the light of my life, and I never want to forget that. Even after everything, I want you to be with me, wherever I go. So… um…”

Aym quickly shuffled into a kneel and held out the box in front of her, cracking it open as she spoke, “Karlach Cliffgate, will you marry me?”

“Fuck yes!” Karlach practically shouted. She eagerly reached forward and pulled Aym into a kiss, her skin flushed with heat from her barely contained-excitement. Karlach pulled back and began to pepper Aym’s face with kisses, pressing her lips anywhere and everywhere that Aym would let her. 

Aym giggled against Karlach’s lips, one hand tightly clutching the small ringbox while the other hung onto one of Karlach’s arms. She allowed Karlach to push her back onto the ground, wagging her tail enthusiastically as her lover continued to pepper her face and neck with kisses. “I’m yours, Karlach, forever. I promise!” she said with a grin. 

“Dear gods, my name sounds so good in your mouth!” Karlach leaned back a bit as she paused her onslaught and admired her girlfriend. “I’d ride you until you saw stars right here and now if I didn’t think we’d have a stray Fist walk in on us.”

“I’d let you too, even with the threat of a wandering Fist,” Aym said, intertwining her tail with Karlach’s. “But maybe we can find a room for a short stay on our way back after.” She pushed herself up and gently took Karlach’s left hand in hers. “For now, may I?”

“Of course, darling.” 

Aym pulled the white gold band out of the ring box and carefully slid it onto Karlach’s finger. On the top of the ring sat three stones, a large black diamond in the middle with two amethysts on either side. “I paid to have it enchanted with heat resistance, so you don’t need to worry about it melting,” Aym assured, running her fingers over Karlach’s hand as she spoke. “And these stones here are meant to represent us. One black diamond and two amethysts to match our horns.”

“Aym, it’s beautiful,” Karlach said, turning her blue eyes onto her partner. “Please tell me there’s another to put on you?”

“Of course.” Aym reached back into the picnic basket and pulled out an identical box. “I had them engraved too. ‘A & K’ on the inside. Nothing too fancy. Only so much I could afford. But that way you’re always with me, and I’m always with you, no matter where we go.”

Karlach took the box from Aym and carefully pulled the ring from inside. She took hold of Aym’s right hand and slid the ring onto her finger. She bent down and kissed Aym’s hand, cupping Aym’s face with her other hand. “Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.” Karlach looked back up at her fiancee and smiled. “So we should talk to Withers about officiating right?”

Aym let out a loud laugh in surprise. “Withers? Why Withers?”

“He seems divine enough to officiate a wedding. Better than trying to book a church in Baldur’s Gate, I assure you.” Karlach waved her hand around as she explained, “It’s expensive, we’d have to pick a patron deity to dedicate the wedding to, not to mention I don’t think the Emperor would take too kind to use taking a detour while the Elder Brain is out and about.”

“Oh, he’s no fun anyway. What would he know about the importance of a proper wedding?” Aym said with a snort. “I think a small ceremony with Withers and the gang sounds lovely though. It's a shame I won’t be able to have my family in attendance, but maybe once we take care of things here, if you’re feeling well enough, we can take a visit to Neverwinter for you to meet them briefly? It’s no meeting my parents, but it’s the next best thing.”

“Meet that bard cousin and fashion empire uncle of yours that you’re always talking about? I’ve been dying to meet them!” Aym flinched a little at the phrase. “Poor choice of words,” Karlach mumbled sheepishly, “but my point still stands! Maybe we could even have a small party there to celebrate. As long as I’m with you, I’ll be happy.” 

Aym’s heart fluttered as Karlach enthused over the prospect of their wedding. Karlach was right, they had hardly the time or money to spend on a church or fancy dresses, not with the Elder Brain looming over the city. But the prospect of a small intimate wedding, officiated by Withers, with all their new and closest friends in attendance made Aym’s heart sing. It was perfect.

She tightened her grip on Karlach’s tail with her own and gazed down at the ring on her finger. It still didn’t feel real, even if she had bought the rings herself. A wide toothy grin spread across Aym’s face as she looked back up into Karlach’s bright blue eyes. “I love you so much,” Aym said, “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Karlach, and now,” she wiggled her fingers, “you’ll always be with me.”

Karlach returned Aym’s grin with one of her own, a happy laugh bubbling out from her chest. “Oh gods, you’re so sexy when you talk like this.” She reached out and gently grasped Aym’s chin, pulling her close so that her lips could capture Aym’s in a soft kiss. “I love you too,” Karlach whispered against her lips, “and gods am I so happy to have experienced real love like this.”

“Me too,” Aym whispered back between kisses. “There’s no one else like you, my beloved firefly.”