#I love drawing them the exact same just w different clothes and hair length

[t0bey]

byleths the fe3h character I enjoy drawing the most so! two of them

[razorblade180-heated]

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[Smut!]

Midday on Menagerie, Ilia was getting ready for her favorite place, bed! Community service for past mistakes meant getting up so early, so while others days were revving up, hers was coasting down. The young faunus made her way up her massive tree house and walked through the front door. Immediately her shoes came off and postured slouched as she made her way to her couch.

“One more day over with. At least I got lucky and got cargo moving instead of trash.” Her body sunk into the sofa. The peaceful mood of her home wrapped Ilia in comfort. From the gentle sunlight, cool breeze, the delicious smell of pasta coming from the pot simmering on her stove, even the way Sun wore a ridiculous apron as he-

“Wait, what the!?” Her body sprung up onto her feet. “Sun!?”

“Oh hey. Took you long enough.” He smiled, watching Ilia’s face go through a vast amount of expressions before settling on a smile. She gave him a running hug filled with surprised laughter. “Aw, hehe, glad you’re as happy as me.”

“I didn’t know you were visiting. Wait, did I forget something!? Did we plan anything!?”

“No. This is a bonafide surprise from yours truly. How was your day?”

“Same shit different day. Only today is now better than most.” She placed her head against him. “Not that I don’t appreciate the smell of pasta, but I already ate before I got home.”

“That’s fine. Consider it left overs. At least now you have more than takeout for a while.”

“Takeout is perfectly fine. I’m gonna change into something comfortable. I expect no more lifestyle judgments when I get back.” Ilia took off down the hall and into her room.

“What’s the point of a dirty clothes hamper if you put the clothes next to it?” Sun snickered, waiting for Ilia’s face to pop out of the doorway. He wasn’t disappointed for a second to see her squint at him.

“Don’t enter my room like you own the place!”

xxxxx

Time seemed to go by a little quicker when Sun was around. Afternoon had arrived in the blink of an eye with the sky turning shades of red and purple. Ilia had made herself cozy yet again on the couch but with Sun acting as a big spoon. The white t-shirt and light blue basketball shorts she had chosen made cooling of all the more easier. This moment should’ve been perfect, yet… it wasn’t. Sun never did anything without a reason. As much as she enjoyed this surprise visit, something had to have sparked it. Ilia turned her body towards him and studied his gaze before it was directed towards her with curiosity.

“What’s up?”

“You tell me. You look a little tired, Sun. What’s eating at you?”

“Me? Nothing. The flight was longer than usual so I guess I’m a bit tired-” Her right hand held his face. Sun looked into grayish-blue eyes and found himself sighing.

“Hey, aren’t you the one always telling me to lean on you when I need to? Don’t try the cool guy act. You can lean on me too.”

“I know. I… it’s hard to explain.”

“Was it a fight with Neptune?”

“No, nothing like that. Honestly, I just really, really missed you is all.” His arm draped over her back, keeping her close. “I know it sounds a bit silly but lately I keep missing you.”

Now that was a shock. “Missing me?” Ilia blushed watching Sun rest his head on her while his arms hugged her body gently, “S-Sun?”

“Outside of meetings twice a month and calls, I go about my normal routine. Missions, hangout spots, it all feels like a loop recently; and all I want is the thing that makes it all worthwhile. The time with you just never feels like enough. My head has tons of things to think about but it wants you to be a part of all of them.”

“What’s so silly about that?” Ilia pulled Sun away to get a good look at his face. There was sadness, a longing in his eyes. One she easily recognized. She pressed her forehead against his. The warmth of his body swallowed her whole, drawing her in and erasing the loneliness she saw in him. “I miss you everyday, but it makes these moments all the more worthwhile.”

The typically cheerful blonde remained silent, basking in this moment. Without words, they both leaned in gently to kiss briefly. Seconds after, they found themselves once again getting lost in each other’s looks; the mutual feelings making Sun give Ilia a longer, more passionate kiss that she gladly melted into. His lips alone made her heart flutter. Sun really missed her, more than ever. The shift in his weight turned them over until Ilia was under him. Her hands came around his back and her voice escaped from her the longer their kiss. She had no intent on denying him, but even so, the feeling of Sun tenderly nipping her bottom lip and playing with her tongue made her body feel weak with pleasure.

“He’s so…vulnerable.” She felt his hands grab her legs, propping them up on either side of his body before sliding them up under the shorts, gripping her hips the way she liked. This desire he had for her filled Ilia’s thoughts. “Maybe, I’m not loving him enough? No, stop that. You know he doesn’t think that. Still…” Their lips found a moment to separate for a moment of air. “Sun, am I loving you right?” Her voice was soft and a bit pleading from all the kissing.

Sun gave a soft smile. His hand ran through her long brown hair as he kissed her forehead. “Your love is perfect. It’s why I want more. Ilia, I want to be with you more. I want to love you more. Everything about you, I just…” his thumb traced over her lips, “want more.” And so he went for it. Sun continued to kiss the woman who stole his mind and claimed his heart. He felt her fingers grip his short and tug it until it fell off his shoulders. Sun found the patience to stop again in order to remove it altogether. Not that it took long.

Ilia in her flustered state took the break as a moment to calm her beating heart. She slipped out of her t-shirt no problem and let out a yelp feeling Sun raise her hips. He pulled down her shorts, tossing them on the ground and leaving her in dark blue lace panties. Ilia felt her heart rate quicken the moment his fingers slid in between her labia.

“Ahn~”

“You’re already this wet. Not to mention wearing something like this is never your first pick.” Sun leaned closer over Ilia, who’s eyes fought desperately not to close. “Are you wearing these for me?”

“You…ah- know the answer, jerk.” She moaned, arms holding him close again. A sudden burst of pleasure and slight pain hit her neck as she felt his teeth gently bite the sensitive flesh, marking her. The heat of his mouth on her was second only to his tender rubbing along her slit. Her hips raised instinctively and Sun took the opportunity to pull her panties away. Ilia was so caught up in all these little actions that her body tensed the moment she felt the head of his aching dick press at her entrance.

Her face may have been hidden over his shoulder, but it made hearing her contained whimpers all the sweeter as rolled his hips forward; opening her up agonizingly slow as he was greeted with warmth and her walls pulling him in until Sun completely buried himself inside her. Sun didn’t even have the strength to pull more than halfway out before sinking back into her again and again, picking up the pace after each thrust. Ilia’s whimpers grew louder until she began panting.

Sounding needy was always what Ilia tried avoiding, but that became increasingly difficult when there was someone who didn’t think twice about expressing theirs. The sound of Sun’s lustful groans and erotic breathes hitting her ear only turned Ilia on. How he was able to be so shameless about it was beyond her, but she never wanted him to stop. There wasn’t a part of him that didn’t feel like flames. The body pressed against her, the lips that devoured her neck, and most of all, the rock hard length that filled her up to the point her waist felt numbingly good. Somehow…it just kept digging into the exact same spot.

“W..Wait! I’m…ngh~” her toes curled against the couch. Despite her attempt at words, her body didn’t want him to stop. Sun finally pulled away from her neck but went straight back to assaulting her mouth. Her entire body shivered from him dominating and stealing her tongue from her control. If that wasn’t bad enough, Sun took liberty of pulling her left arm off his body,taking her hand in his to hold against the couch. Ilia could no longer put up a fight. Her body all but melted into the couch as her heart danced and voice let out a muffled cry while her legs trembled throughout her orgasm.

Sun winced, his girlfriend squeezing him in every way. He stood on his knees to give her space to actually breathe, her chest constantly falling from all their kissing. The freckles on her face were red and though she didn’t look at him, she refused to let go of his hand. Not that he wanted her to. Sun groaned, pulling out of her, his own climax still far away. That was fine, because he wasn’t done seeing her like this.

Ilia’s head was slowly getting itself together. They’ve had memorable times but that felt good. Like…drunk sex kind of good. Her mind barely registered watching Sun reach down for his jeans and pulled out a condom he swiftly tore open with his teeth before rolling it over his cock. Ilia couldn’t comprehend fast enough on what went through her own mind let alone Sun’s as he grinded against her sensitive pussy. That was…until he slowly dragged it down a bit lower than expected. The haze Ilia experienced cleared the same time her heart skipped a beat and blush overtook her face. “Wait are you-” was all she got out before her voice gave out, her lungs exhaling everything in her as she felt her ass accommodate Sun’s throbbing cock. A guttural moan rose from the base of her throat. Ilia’s eyes shut tightly and her back arched, unable to fall back down to the couch thanks to Sun holding it in place.

He managed to free his other hand to grab her waist in order to themselves, then, he fucked her just how she loved it. Unlike with her pussy, Ilia wanted it rough and hard here; her dirty little secret that she hated to admit. Sun’s moans were drowned out by Ilia’s cry of ecstasy. “There’s those moans I love.” Ilia did nothing to stop them but that didn’t stop her from placing her arms over her eyes while her entire body went pink with bright red freckles.

She’ll kill him. This time for sure she’ll do it! There wasn’t a nerve in her body that wasn’t feeling him ravage her completely, sending her into bliss too strong for her to think. Sun was giving it to her without a second thought. His hips smacked against her ass. The hand on her hip went down to her leg and raised it until her foot was over his shoulder. It wasn’t too much of a change until he leaned forward ever so slightly and plunged deeper.

“AHHH! FUCK~ SUN!” Tears welled up. Ilia turned her head towards the couch pillow and bit down, hard.

Sun listened to all of her gasps, moans, and whimpers; each one spurring him on while he watched her pussy flow like a river. He wasn’t even touching it anymore but it twitched violently with each thrust he gave. He dared to press a single finger into the nectar and feel it grip him while her hips began shaking. “That’s right! Cum whenever you’re ready. I’m so close~” he sped up again.

Ilia felt herself get dizzy, the haze returning stronger than before until everything went white. Any feeling of embarrassment was pushed away, and Ilia screamed into the pillow like it actually did anything. She felt the condom inside her begin to swell with Sun’s cum that felt hot and heavy enough to burst right through it. Thankfully it appeared to stay contained. Ilia’s body went limp, exhausted from her second orgasm. A small moan left her lips feeling Sun leave her body as he placed her softly on the couch. Ilia couldn’t decide what was worse. The fact that yelling at him would hurt right now, or the fact she didn’t want to yell at him at all. She finally looked at him, eyes half opened and still riding her high. She saw just how sweaty he had gotten and the used condom already safely put aside for the moment. He was still right in between her legs with a gaze that saw only her.

“Ilia…”

“I know.” She cooed. His eyes said it all, and she knew hers did the same. Her arms reached out, inviting him back into her grasp. “I want more of you too.” This time their kisses were less hungry but still every bit as passionate. Right down to the way she moaned his name as Sun slid right back inside her soaked core. Ilia could feel every inch of him glide effortlessly through her in great detail. Somehow he felt bigger than earlier.

“Are you okay?” He could feel her quiver in his arms.

“I’m good. Not so fast this time okay? I want this to last.” It was the truth, but Ilia couldn’t bring herself to mention that she wouldn’t be able to withstand another intense round. It was already challenging to not cum on the spot. Sun listened to her request, rolling his hips into her like waves swaying a boat. “Yeah. Like that.” She gasped, hugging him. Her legs looked locked around his lower back before getting washed away in the moment. She felt her lips graze his again multiple times, continuously demanding attention.

Sun laughed as he felt Ilia’s hands comb through his hair. The moans she tried hiding were all to clear for him. As was her trembling pussy. With each move, he felt her clench tighter and kiss a little deeper. “Cumming again?” Just asking made Ilia hold on tightly. “I’m close too. Cum if you need to.”

“No.” Her voice whined, happily tired. “I wanna cum with you.” The weight of his cock pressed straight down into her, throbbing immensely in a way that made her overwhelmingly weak. His raspy breathing hit her ear.

“I love you.” Sun gasped, his limit finally reached. He pressed his hips right up against Ilia’s, burying his cock in her as he came. Ilia’s limps clung to him for dear life. The way he felt her insides wring him out as Ilia let out a voiceless cry sent him completely over the edge.

Ilia desperately wanted to return his words but try as she might, all she could was hold him close while her body let her orgasm rush through her body, and even down Sun’s shaft. She could still feel it giving her everything it had until it finally stopped, softening enough to slip out of her. Her legs finally freed her blonde, but his body remained on her; Sun’s head on her chest while he still groaned from the pleasure. He didn’t meet her gaze but his arms still held her close. Ilia could see his ears burn bright red. Giggling to herself, Ilia rubbed the top of his head. Now he was embarrassed?

“Sigh, so needy, but who am I to talk?” Ilia put her other arm around him. “I love you too.”

xxxxx

After a well deserved and comforting moment in her arms, Sun sat at the dinner table across from her. A little embarrassed from earlier, he wanted to talk to Ilia but the girl silently stuffed her face with pasta and avoided his gaze. He wanted to believe his cooking was just that good but the fact her skin was still pink gave him other thoughts.

“Maybe I went a little overboard this time?” Watching her flustered face pout from his actions was always cute, but he did feel a little guilty. After all…he did go for all of her this time around. “Ummm.” He didn’t know what to say.

Ilia traced her fork around the plate. By no means was she upset at him. It was just hard to say anything when what happened was on repeat in her head. For both their sakes she worked up the will to speak. “Two weeks.”

“Huh?” Sun watched Ilia’s cheeks get redder. “Two weeks?”

“Yeah. That’s how long I have left until my community service is officially down. So….maybe we should celebrate? A proper vacation, just you and me.” Her eyes finally met his, “I want it too ya know? Being with you more I mean. I…can’t think of anything better; coming home to see you here made me really happy. So let’s plan a long vacation together.”

Sun got up from his seat and walked over to her. Ilia could see the joy in his eyes and the gentle smile on his face made her lips curl up. She closed eyes, already knowing he was going to kiss her. It was just as lovely as all the others that came before and would be as incredible as the ones bound to come after. She opened her eyes to look up at him, his forehead against hers.

“Let’s do it.” He cuffed the side of her face, watching her lean into it. “Ilia?”

“Hmmm?”

“I don’t think I can let you sleep tonight.”

Honestly, what was she going to do with him? It was like his love was spilling over, and so was hers.

“Okay❤️”

[thereluctantinquisitor]

I Dub Thee, “Lucky”

A little not-surprise for the lovely @laskulls, featuring the wonderful Mahalen Lavellan and my OC Darren Miller! 

In which Darren arrives at Haven as a fresh recruit and has no idea the young elf he is speaking to is the Herald of Andraste himself... (Approx 3000 words, most under the cut) <3

“You wait right here, boy. Don’t go wandering off, understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

Darren snapped into an awkward salute that earned him a tired roll of the eyes from Talden. The grizzled recruitment officer did not waste any time on further words as he shook his head and stalked through the main gate of Haven, his silver armour catching the light of the midday sun and flashing brightly beneath its touch. The town itself was small, barely home to two-dozen houses, but already Darren could clearly see that it served a higher purpose. Soldiers milled about, jostling past one another in their haste. Many rushed towards the stables, where the metallic ringing of hammer and anvil signalled the presence of a smithy, however makeshift and undermanned. Other uniformed men and women peeled off in the opposite direction towards rows of pitched tents, interspaced with training dummies and archery targets, not a single one unoccupied.

Darren stood between the two hives of activity and tried his best not to look completely out of place. In his ruddy clothing and well-worn boots, he probably would have fit in far more comfortably among the refugees than the soldiers. He shifted uneasily, silently hoping that Talden, as miserable and grumpy as he was, would come back soon and point him in some kind of direction. Already he was drawing absent attention from the busy recruits, their arms laden with either weapons or sacks of food to be moved behind the tall stone walls of Haven. None of them said anything to him, but a part of Darren couldn’t help but feel judged. Sized up. Most of them looked so much older than him; so much more experienced. They handled swords and daggers with the same care a child showed to a willow switch, while just the thought of sharpened steel in his hands left Darren in a nervous sweat. 

What am I doing? he thought for what felt like the hundredth time that day alone. Claire was right. I can’t do this. I shouldn’t be here. I…

A figure shifted by the large outer wall, standing in the shadow of what appeared to be a tall nug statue seated on a stone pedestal. Darren hadn’t noticed the person before, but was surprised to find he looked… well… young. Possibly even as young as Darren himself. Swallowing, Darren glanced back towards the main gate, however saw no sign of Talden’s return. Odds were he would hear the man grunting and grumbling in his miserly fashion well before he saw him, anyway. So, heart fluttering about like a drunk bird, Darren swallowed and began to move towards the young man. He’d barely taken two paces in the appropriate direction before the stranger’s bright eyes flicked up, flashing with first surprise, then uncertainty, as they came to rest on him.

The young man wasn’t tall, but then again, neither was Darren. Leaning against the cool stone of Haven’s wall, his red hair stood out impressively against the grey backdrop, and as Darren got closer he noticed that delicate lines spread like branches across his face, framing his eyes and unfurling upon his forehead. It was at that precise moment that Darren also saw the shape of his ears and blinked in surprise, pulling up short. He hadn’t really seen any elves before, and there he was, faced with one not even a minute after arriving at Haven. Then again, Darren supposed he’d also never really seen any dwarves or Qunari either, or even anyone more than a few day’s ride from his hometown, so that wasn’t really saying much. He’d never considered himself sheltered before, but that was probably because he’d never really known anything different.

Aware that he was being eyed with a degree of wariness, Darren stopped his approach and reached up, running a hand anxiously through his own mess of blonde hair, hoping to casually smother it into a decent shape beneath the palm of his hand.

“Uh… hi there,” he said, flashing what he hoped was a friendly smile. The elven man regarded him quietly for a long moment, which of course prompted an already nervous Darren to prattle on. “I-I just got here – I’m a new recruit – so I figured I’d come and say hello. Everyone seems so busy but then I saw… w-well, I mean, I’m sure you’re busy too, of course! I wasn’t trying to… uh…”

Horrified, Darren trailed off, his cheeks replaced by what felt like a pair of hot coals burning on either side of his face. In that moment he knew that whatever he had hoped to gain from approaching the only person who seemed remotely friendly had just gone fluttering out the window along. Groaning softly, Darren slid his hand from his hair down to his face and shook his head in dismay. Great. This is just… great.

“Sorry...”

“It’s all right.”

Darren, startled, looked up from where he had hidden behind his hand. It was with no small measure of relief that he discovered the elven man he thought he had insulted was, in fact, smiling. Just a little bit, as though he had measured the exact amount needed to set Darren’s mind at ease and found it wouldn’t take much. A little less tight-chested, Darren released a breathy laugh and slipped back into his usual boyish grin.

“Ah, I’m a little out of my depth here, aren’t I? What I meant was that I saw someone else who looked about my age and figured it would be polite to introduce myself. If you’re not busy, that is.”

The elven man, clearly curious, nodded. A beat of silence followed, and Darren’s smile slowly grew more awkward the longer he held it. The elf continued to lean against the wall, eying him with a kind of mute expectation. Eventually, a bemused expression coaxed one of his brows into an arch and he cocked his head to the side.

“… I thought you were going to introduce yourself?”

Heat rushed back to Darren’s face. “O-Oh, right, sure! I’m Darren.” He wiped his palms hastily on his tunic and took a hurried step forward, offering an apologetic smile along with his extended hand. “Darren Miller. From Glendess. Not that you would’ve heard of it or anything. It’s a pretty small place, I mean.” He punctuated the sentence with a self-deprecating laugh, quietly praying to whoever would listen that he hadn’t managed to ramble his way straight back into humiliation. Fortunately, the elven man seemed to relax a little, that bright-eyed stare softening until it was no longer cut as sharply as a gemstone set for a crown.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Mahalen Lavellan, from… well, somewhere you’ve probably never heard of either, actually. The rest of my clan is up north in the Free Marches.” He reached out and accepted Darren’s hand with a firm grip. They shook and Darren did his best to not look too surprised.

“Wow. You’re all the way from the Free Marches?” he repeated in awe. “That’s a long way, isn’t it? I mean, to come down here to Haven. That must have been a big trip.”

Mahalen made a soft sound that was more a huff than a laugh, as though Darren had told a subtly humorous joke. “Yeah, you could say it was. I didn’t really expect, well…” He released Darren’s hand and gestured vaguely to their surroundings, taking in the smithy, the soldiers, the refugees, and Haven itself. “… this. So I guess we’re both a little surprised, huh? I just had a head start.”

Grinning, Darren felt a small piece of his earlier tension melt away. Just speaking to someone – anyone – made it all feel a little more… well, real. “It’s sure nice to know I’m not the only one feeling a bit overwhelmed! So, have you been here for a while, or…?”

“Well when the Conclave… you know… I’ve been here since then.” Mahalen paused, then continued. “Unless you mean right here, standing behind this statue. In which case ah, less time. Maybe half an hour.”

They both shared a small laugh, and Darren reached out to place a hand on the statue, its golden surface smooth beneath his touch. “A bit of a funny thing to have though, isn’t it? It’s not really what I expected. The Inquisition just sounds so official and scary, but then there’s this big old nug statue out the front.” He grinned and glanced across, happy to see that Mahalen had found his own smile and was shining it up towards the tall statue in agreement. He looked so much lighter when he smiled, like the world wasn’t cracked and bleeding somewhere above their heads.

Not many people smiled anymore.

“Hmm… he needs a name, I think,” Mahalen said, eyes sweeping the length of the statue then flicking across to catch Darren’s. “Any ideas?”

“A name, huh…” Tapping his pursed lips with his finger, Darren paced around and regarded the statue from its front. The nug was positioned on its hind legs, one of its front paws raised as though waving to a distant friend. With a snort, Darren reached out and touched his palm to it, letting his hand linger there. “I’m not sure, honestly. Why do you think it’s posed like this? I mean, it doesn’t really make much sense, does it? Do nugs stand up like that?”

“I don’t think so,” Mahalen confessed as he came out from his little sanctuary and rounded to the front of the statue. He seemed less comfortable out in the open with all the soldiers constantly flowing past, but now they moved around the pair at a respectable distance that Darren certainly hadn’t enjoyed when he had been standing alone. “Maybe you’re meant to touch it like you did,” Mahalen continued thoughtfully, reaching out for himself to repeat Darren’s gesture, “for luck or something?”

Darren nodded thoughtfully, eying where Mahalen’s hand rested against the golden nug’s. Then, without warning, an idea struck him so quickly that he actually gasped.

“Lucky!”

Mahalen blinked in surprise, taking a cautious half-step back as Darren turned to him eagerly for his opinion. “What?”

“You said that maybe you touch its hand for luck, right?” Darren explained with the rapid excitement of a child hurrying to the punchline of a joke. “So… it’s lucky! Get it? Lucky.”

It took Mahalen a few moments to absorb what Darren was saying, but it was less because he didn’t understand and more because of Darren’s sudden and explosive enthusiasm rendering him speechless. But, after only a few short beats, Mahalen cocked his head and smiled, eyes sparkling as he rose onto his toes to touch the nug statue atop its head.

“Very well, then!” He declared, then cleared his throat solemnly. “I dub thee… Lucky. First of his name. May he serve the Inquisition well in the coming days!”

Laughing brightly, Darren offered the statue a mock bow, then straightened quickly, cheeks flushing as he glanced around, clearly forgetting the fact that he was in the midst of armed, stern troops. Thankfully, no one seemed to take much interest in him, although he did notice a few lingering gazes on Mahalen’s back as he stepped away from the statue, his smile still present but softening into something more private than before, like he was entertaining a new thought that had wandered to the forefront of his mind. There was something almost peaceful about the expression, and it left Darren feeling oddly satisfied. Unwilling to ruin the moment, he waited patiently until Mahalen blinked and returned to the present.

“I suppose that was my first official act,” he murmured with a quiet chuckle. “I think it was worthy enough, don’t you?”

Darren gave a wavering smile, a small flicker of confusion dancing across his face, but nodded regardless, happy to just have found someone willing to speak to him. Before the silence could stretch into awkwardness, he cleared his throat.

“So uh… are you a recruit too, then? A soldier?”

Mahalen’s stared at him for a moment, then his features slackened slightly in disbelief. He turned to face Darren fully, eyebrows raised. “Wait… you mean you don’t—?”

“—Herald! T… There you are!”

The interruption startled both Darren and Mahalen as a scout came rushing from the main gate, puffing in deep, billowing heaves. He was softer around the edges than most, and clearly not accustomed to racing up and down Haven’s many slopes and steps. He scuttled to a halt then doubled forward, sweat dripping down his nose and onto the dirt in steady beads.

“Is something wrong?” Mahalen asked, alarmed as he turned away from Darren to face the scout. Still catching his breath, the man started to nod rapidly, then seemed to think better of it and shook his head with equal vigor. When Mahalen spoke again Darren swore he could hear the bemused frown on his face. “Well then... what’s the matter?”

“Herald… the S-Seeker… she… oh Andraste’s… mercy…” As the scout continued to try and huff out his message, the world around Darren seemed to slowly slip out of clarity, growing muffled as though he had plunged his head into a barrel of water.

H… Herald?

Darren stared dumbly at the back of Mahalen’s head as the scout slowly delivered something about mages and Templars and the advisors waiting on a decision. Realisation swept over him and his jaw fell slack like an unhinged door. When Mahalen finally turned back to face him, Darren immediately bristled, his spine shooting straight as an arrow as he snapped to attention.

“H-Herald! I mean, Y-Your Worship! I’m so sorry, I didn’t…!” he broke off, mind racing. He should do something - something official? Bow? Salute? Which one? His mind, rattled by the sudden realisation that he had wasted the Herald of Andraste’s time naming a nug statue, somehow managed to combine the two, and Darren performed an awkward half-bow-half-salute reminiscent of a woodpecker head-butting a tree. He cringed in horror as he straightened from the disastrous mess his panic had created then left him with. “I apologise, really! If I’d know, I wouldn’t have—”

“It’s all right,” Mahalen said quickly, raising his hands, seeming almost alarmed by Darren’s… well… alarm. “Really, it’s okay. I have to go now, but it was nice meeting you!”

“Of course, sir—Y-Your Worship!” Darren corrected himself hastily then bowed again, this time properly, right hand palm-down against his chest. He stayed that way for Maker knows how long, tipped forward with a nervous sweat gathering on his brow, until he heard the sound of twin footsteps recede into the low hum of activity that constantly filled Haven’s streets. Slowly, almost timidly, he straightened again...

… and saw old Talden standing right before him, fixing him with a flat, steady look. His greying brows were drawn so low and tight above his eyes that it cast them in a menacing shadow. The expression alone left Darren’s knees trembling like autumn leaves and he snapped from his stooped bow to attention fast enough to give himself whiplash.

“T-Talden, sir!”

“What did I say, boy?” Talden demanded through clenched teeth, the tightness of his tone causing Darren to wince. “Don’t. Move. So either you’ve got shit in your ears, or you’re as dumb as you look.”

Nearby, some of the bustling soldiers and recruits paused to enjoy the spectacle, clearly pleased to not be the focus of the older man’s ire. A low snigger rose up from some of them, while others just looked on with an air of amused pity. In that precise moment, Darren wished he could sink into the stone and vanish.

“N-No, sir! I’m sorry, sir, I just—”

“Didn’t ask for an excuse, now did I?” Talden interrupted with a sharp jerk of his hand, as if to quite literally cut Darren off. Then he frowned, his grey gaze flicking across to the nug statue then back to the now fully shaking Darren who could already feel the traitorous sting of tears building behind his eyes. Don’t do it, he repeated in his head frantically, trying to distract himself with small things like the detailing on Talden’s lapel. Please, Maker, don’t cry. Not here. Not in front of…

“You like the statue, boy?”

The way Talden asked the question made it seem so offhanded. So innocent. Darren immediately felt a wash of dread claim him like the grasping waters of the sea, pulling him under with a sharp jerk. He gulped, terrified, then nodded. What else could he do?

“Well… good.” Talden took a step closer and loomed over Darren. A slow, thin smile spread across his face like it had been slit by an invisible knife. “Because you’re going to be cleaning every speck of dust and bird shit off it all afternoon as punishment for failing to follow your first and only set of bloody orders.”

Darren’s reply was little more than a squeaked yes sir, but Talden seemed satisfied with the degree of fear he had struck deep within the core of Darren’s soul. He nodded once and stepped back, then paused. Suddenly, like an owl locking on to a scuttling mouse, his head snapped to the side and the small crowd of uniformed men and woman gathered there dispersed like ants before a falling boot, scampering off in all directions. Talden sighed gruffly then glanced back towards Darren, who was still holding his stiff, knee-knocking salute. Clearly too tired to admonish him further, Talden just shook his head.

“Come on then. You’re off to see the Commander first.” He paused, then grunted, turning away. Darren only just caught the words he muttered next, and they left a painful knot in his gut, heavy as a stone.

“Maker help you, boy. You’re going to need it.”