the dismissal is not something he's so accustomed to these days, especially not from vhaal'krin― it renders him temporarily bereft of speech, albeit bewildered as to the strange shift that had crept in over hours past. had he done or said something to cause this? or was something else at play here? it never did him well to dwell on the past, and yet he found himself rushing back, retracing every step, each recent conversation, the shared moments between them. wondering, fearful that he had unknowingly mucked something up somewhere along the line. it's an immediate thing, a sensation that grabs at him like a phantom, punishing hand.
and then just as quickly, his doubts are balled up and tossed to some unreachable corner of his mind. for now.
“ what's― ” astarion catches the unmistakable scent of his blood, and the drow's stumbling as if he's been beaten over the head. something else was at play here, after all. he's quick to squash down the accompanying wave of guilt, however, not quick enough to catch him upright. despite getting his arms around him, his insecure footing results in their being promptly sat in the dirt. “ no, no. now's not the time for games, darling, open your eyes! ” he manages in a panic, fingers coming up to gently tap at vhaal'krin's cheek. he's out like a light. the vampire spawn shouts for a healer, and there's a sudden rush of movement as shadowheart appears, healing hands finding the source.
the sky is darker, the sun on the brink of the horizon, the camp fire beginning to establish and astarion can't quite make himself move from underneath the drow's resting head. his fingers had eventually found themselves in vhaal'krin's hair, roaming over his scalp and brushing through like a fine-tooth comb. waiting, waiting, for those ruddy eyes to blink up at him again. astarion sighs, shifting his perturbed gaze to the fire.