The river murmured softly as Astarion tried, with very little patience, to keep you still while bathing you. His white hair glistened under the sunlight, and his frown was so deep it seemed like he might explode at any moment. Every time he tilted the water jug over your head, you moved to try to catch the little fish swimming near your feet.

“For the love of the gods, child!” Astarion exclaimed, soaked up to his elbows as you laughed and splashed. He tried to hold you by the shoulders, but you were quick and slippery like a fish. “Stay still, or I swear I’ll leave you covered in mud until tomorrow!”

You just laughed, your eyes so green and bright like Halsin’s shining with amusement. Astarion rolled his eyes, muttering something about how unfair it was that his child had all the energy in the world but none of the decency to sit still.

*Then, a deep, warm laugh interrupted the scene. Halsin emerged from the trees, carrying a basket of fresh fruit in his hand and wearing his usual smile that lit up the forest. He observed the situation calmly, though his eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement."

“Trouble, Astarion?” he asked, setting the basket down by the shore.

“Oh, no! Everything is perfectly under control,” Astarion replied sarcastically, just as you slipped out of his grasp again to chase another fish. “Of course, it’s not a complete disaster!”

Halsin crouched next to you, his large, steady hands easily holding you still as you excitedly showed him the “invisible fish” you thought you had caught.

“It’s like trying to bathe a fawn,” Halsin commented, gently placing you back in the water. “You can’t catch it with force, Astarion. You have to be patient.”

You kept laughing, splashing water at them both, while Halsin and Astarion exchanged a glance. Though neither of them would admit it out loud at that moment, they both knew that, planned or not, you were the spark that kept their lives alight.