Astarion is one of the more enigmatic companions in Baldur's Gate 3. He's charismatic, a man with a barb for every occasion. His humor is often used as armor, protecting him from the cruelty of the world and the vulnerability he hides behind it. Because of this, and because of the things he's been through, he rarely expresses sincere affection for another person. Teasing, playful taunts, and witticisms are how he tends to mask how he really feels about other people.
Gale, by contrast, is kind, scholarly, and unapologetically sentimental. His florid way of speaking and his love of arcane theory make him Astarion's polar opposite in almost every way.
In that light, it would seem Astarion is the last person who should appreciate someone like Gale. He teases the fae companion unendingly, and their personalities tend to grate more than harmonize. Gale's earnestness can come across as weakness to a person so closed off as Astarion, and Astarion's teasing seems like a lack of patience with Gale's verbose storytelling.
But the longer the player is around both, the more the lines between them become blurred, the more they realize Astarion does see Gale. More than that, Astarion might just care about him far more than he ever admits.
The Complement
One example of this subtle affection is during one of our silent bonding moments at camp. The player can approach Astarion while he is sulking about not being able to admire his own image in a mirror. If the player says, “You are pretty good. Not Gale good, but pretty good,” this seems to get Astarion's approval. It hints at the fact that Astarion thinks that Gale is attractive, and in comparing him to Gale with such a backhanded compliment, he gives away the fact that he does like the way Gale looks.
It is a detail that is easy to miss in a game where there are so many moments to take in. But it is a detail that is hard to forget because it goes so against what players expect. It reveals a level of admiration for Gale that Astarion would never outwardly accept or demonstrate, but that he also is unable to entirely conceal.
Astarion Likes Gale
The clearest piece of evidence comes later in the story, and it might be a spoiler for Act 3 for those who still have not played the game to the end. Astarion has a meaningful decision to make. He could end Gortash, but if he does, he would also lose Gale. Given Astarion’s will to survive and selfish nature, it would be understandable if he took the loss. Instead, he hesitates and says, “We probably should save the wizard though, he does have his moments.”
In this line is the clearest evidence of Astarion’s feelings. He is willing to take a chance for Gale, not for personal gain, but because he cares. It is a moment of truth that slips past Astarion’s typical façade.
Taken as a whole, these subtle moments are evidence for a truth beneath Astarion’s teasing. He does have feelings for Gale. Not obviously. Not brazenly. But honestly, in those fleeting times when he shows his true self.
