( It would be so easy to not care. To simply let them deal with it on their own; it isn't a new perspective from Astarion. He has always wanted to deal with their own problems over that of strangers. She's never thought him less for it, though they've never quite seen eye to eye on the matter -- anything to keep her further away from the Urge, to beat it and prove to it that she is more that the Dark Urge within her.

It is tempting. But she can't.

And neither should he.

Haelva twists, turning onto her side to give him a better look before shaking her head. )

They need our help, Astarion, we can't just leave them to their fate. ( That would be cruel indeed, even as there is a part of her that sings for it, to let an entire race fall to death by a choice she made. Haelva ignores it. ) Besides, there might be something here that can help us understand this place. Or leave them with a debt they owe us for use in the future. ( She isn't ruling out anything.

As for Cazador, however--

Her fingers itch, a vindicitive venom sliding into her tone. That is a part of her, the her before she lost her memories, that Haelva does not care so much about suppressing. )

No one will ever touch you again if you don't wish it, Astarion. Not him, not anyone. Whatever power we find ourselves having here, I will use every ounce of it to keep my word.

( It is as she said that day they met: she would do a great many terrible things to keep him safe. To make sure that he is better than he ever was, than what he was made to be. Astarion deserves the chance to live a better life.

Haelva is not certain she does, but she would gladly damn herself if it meant keeping him safe from Cazador. )