#I'M USING READMORES ON DA OC COMMENTARY AGAIN WE ARE SO BACK BABYYY

[krshush]

Finished the Knight's Tomb sidequest in DA:I like a bit ago and I'm still thinking abt it bc like. I remembered that That's What Happened at Red Crossing, which is already just heartbreaking, right, the whole star-crossed lovers thing being what set off the war proper that lost the Dales.

But, to read the part of the codex with Elandrin's letter to Adalene while playing Elrevas... I cannot fucking describe. Especially if you believe that there was a transcription or s/t of the letter beyond the one buried w/Elandrin and the Inquisitor actually gets to read that part (bc. like hell are we diagetically tomb-raiding for that letter given context, but I digress)

"What care have I for gods I have never seen, for a Maker I do not know? Let others distract themselves with such lofty concerns. I know only this life, I have seen only this world, and I care only for you."

For Elrevas to see his same similar sentiments carried by an Emerald Knight seven hundred years ago. Even putting aside the in-love-with-a-human part of the parallel for a second, just the sentiment of caring for the current life and world over gods who are no longer present is. A Lot for Elrevas, who oft hides that same belief away.

(Perhaps Elrevas should believe there's a god somewhere given everything that's happened to him which, to be fair, he'd then be correct in that one way, but it just doesn't make a difference to Elrevas atm)

But then, circling back to the loving-a-human thing, Elrevas would find making a complete one-to-one comparison between Elandrin & Adalene and him & Dorian laughable; Dorian is not a blushing bride from a humble village, nor Elrevas anything Knight-like in the typical or even Dalish sense in his opinion, nor are either of them aiming for marriage at the point this information is found, they've just agreed to discuss what their relationship could further be after defeating Corypheus (and this is pre-Temple of Mythal with Dorian making his choices)

But. That seven centuries ago, a Dalish elf loved a human, despite the foolishness of it at the time. That seven centuries ago, they died for their love, and the truth of it got swept away under the rush of the history around them.

"I know only this life, I have seen only this world, and I care only for you."

Elrevas looks at Dorian exactly once after finding the scroll, and then cannot quite manage it again on the walk back out to the Emerald Graves, not even when he lets Cassandra lead them instead to keep pace with Dorian at the back of the group.

But he does reach his fingers out to brush Dorian's, a small but familiar affection between them now in lieu of holding hands, and in his periphery he sees Dorian look at him. He can't imagine what could be running through the mage's mind, what reasons he could imagine Elrevas is reaching out for after what they've learned, and which of those reasons are correct. But then he simply reaches back too, their fingers lacing together a long moment, and it loosens the lump in Elreva's throat.

"Your god intercedes as much as ours. My life will not change.

I will return in two weeks' time. My heart longs for you 'til then, and will remain with you forever after."

Neither man can guess what their futures will look like, separately or together, but Elrevas can only hope --despite all his lackluster faith in any one god-- that their futures will end better, perhaps even together.

(He can't ignore the chances that it won't though.)