#Rowan is to be maric’s queen and that’s that

[inquisitorismone]

If you take katriel out of stolen throne entirely and ENTIRELY replace her romance subplot with loghain, the conflict can remain literally almost unchanged

[pumpkincalico]

Currently reading the stolen throne and wanted to draw maric, loghain and rowan! i sure hope nothing bad happens to them :D

[eastern-lights]

I know Loghain's betrayal is very open to intepretation motivation-wise (mostly because he himself tells us fuck all even if the Warden befriends him), but there still seems to be a lot of straight up misconceptions.

For one, I don't believe for a moment that Cailan dying was his plan all along.

I've seen the opinion that his desertion was premeditated because he's a papa wolf who knew how badly Cailan treated Anora. This isn't really that out of character, but as we see in Return to Ostagar, Loghain had no idea Cailan was planning on marrying Celene.

Another proof of premeditation that I've seen is the fact that he had Eamon poisoned. Now, I'm not defending that course of action in the slightest, but I don't think it was connected with Cailan's death. What we're forgetting is that Loghain and Eamon had personal beef. Eamon was a traditionalist who resented commoners in positions of power. He didn't much care that Loghain and his wife had been elevated to nobility, to him, Anora was the daughter of a freeholder and a cabinet-maker. And Loghain knew that, just as he knew Eamon had Cailan's ear. He didn't for one moment trust Eamon to give Cailangood advice, so he made sure Eamon was ot of the picture long enough for the crisis to subside (remember, the poison wasn't actually lethal).

Now here's my own two cents:

The most important thing to know about Loghain is that he loved King Maric. It doesn't matter whether you interpret that love as platonic or romantic. From the day he became a soldier, almost everything Loghain did was in some way motivated by his devotion to Maric and I believe Cailan's death is no different.

During the rebellion, at the battle of West Hill, Loghain faced a choice that amounted to saving Maric or saving the army. He chose Maric. And afterward, Maric was wracked by survivor's guilt so bad he made him promise he would never do that again.

Paired with other factors, like the signal fire being delayed due to a certain ogre incident at the Tower of Ishal, I think Loghain looked at the battlefield and saw that same choice. And he remembered his promise.

It wasn't that he hated Cailan and wanted him dead (if you read the Calling, you learn that for the three years after Queen Rowan's death, he was more of a father to him than Maric was). It was just that to Loghain Mac Tir, there is nothing more sacred than a promise made to Maric Theirin.

[vigilskeep]

do you ever get the impression that cassandra had a bigger role in the game(s) but due to retcons and a cut dlc she was reduced to a seeker who likes romance novels? she showed up in kirkwall with a number of subordinates, clearly had authority and was someone important, but in inquisition she is just a companion who is also "right hand of the divine," whatever that means. i really feel like she was intended to be a more major character, probably an antagonist, but isn't.

i don’t think cassandra was ever intended to be an antagonist, except in the way she performs that role at the start of the framing device in da2. we’re supposed to identify with cassandra in da2 as she is slowly won over by the romance of hawke’s story. that’s not a character we’re intended to fear later. she also shows up at the end with beloved good-aligned companion leliana, which despite leliana’s behaviour during seb’s personal quest, would still feel like a baffling choice for an antagonist setup. the interrogation ends with both varric and cassandra wishing each other the maker’s protection during these grim times. we’re meant to feel like there’s a real problem cass is trying to deal with and needs help for

you’re right that the cut exalted march dlc is worth mentioning. it’s hard to say how which way that would have turned the narrative, but it seems hard to believe we’d end up with the divine’s death and the ensuing inquisition portrayed as they are now. cass wasn’t already canonised as a hand of the divine back then, was she? i don’t know if she would have been involved, especially as da2 specifically sets her up for the inquisition

but i think there’s a much simpler way to explain cassandra’s diminished character in dai: she suffers under the curse of the Gaider Woman

david gaider’s dao prequel novel, the stolen throne, introduces us to the textbook Gaider Woman. this is rowan guerrin, maric’s warrior fiancée, who you won’t remember from dao because after having cailan, she died of Dead Mother Disease. it’s a tough life out there in fiction. anyway, rowan is a warrior fighting for her country’s freedom, who immediately gets pulled into an absurd love square, struggles with her feminine side including putting on a dress to try to win her man over, and at the end of the novel, coming to the conclusion that her purpose is to provide a soft comfort to her king when the world becomes too much: “perhaps this was what queens did. perhaps they held their kings in the darkness, deep within their castles and allowed them that moment of weakness they could never show to anyone else. perhaps they gave strength to their kings, because everyone else only took it from them.” (she arrives at this directly after he murders his other girlfriend and she has to comfort him about it. yes, that’s as insane as it sounds. don’t read the stolen throne.)

anyway, the author of this book is the man who wrote cassandra, a fact which i guessed before i even looked it up. why is her violence never taken seriously as a threat or problem? why must she have a softer, more feminine side? why must the narrative constantly congratulate itself for giving you a Strong Woman? because the way cassandra is written is simply how david gaider feels about women. she’s a cookie cutter example of how he writes them, rowan’s far from the only other one

i think plain old misogyny is far closer at hand than retcons in creating the cassandra we ended up with. and also the changes in how dragon age wants to deal with the chantry, which is separated from the templars and not a credible threat in itself but a handful of bickering old women who cannot do anything effectively (You’ll Never Guess What Gender It’s Run By And What Gender The Templars Are)

[bioticgoddess]

Because I'm at work and bored (it's a slow day) you are now all subject to some semi-rambling Head-canons for my Dragon Age OCs and some of their companions, things I consider canon from my playthroughs.

Origins:

Female, Elf Mage named Maeve. She romanced Zevran and survived the fight with the Archdemon. Alistair fathered Morrigan's son despite having allied with/marrying Queen Anora, his former Sister-In-Law.

We all know he's trying but Anora is the reason Ferelden isn't in tatters let's be honest. She paid attention to everything the late Queen Rowan did and that woman is the whole reason Ferelden survived Maric...read Stolen Throne it'll all make sense.

At the time of Veilguard the pair of Elves are still west of the Anderfels and Maeve has told the First Warden to fuck off several times, as has King Alistair (who says as a Warden he would only answer to Commander Maeve). Zevran has offered to kill him, like a good Crow and a man very tired of seeing his partner bothered by "this awful old man".

Dragon Age 2:

Astrith Hawke is a human mage who romanced Fenris. She killed Anders after he blew up the Chantry because she recognized that that only made things worse IMMEDIATELY and was incensed that her friend manipulated her into helping him construct and place the bomb. Her brother Carver is with the Wardens and following Kirkwall, the pair of them and Fenris go on the run/are being hidden by their friends. Isabella hosts them for a while in Rivain as does House Arainai in Antiva (thanks for dealing with the Zevran incident regardless of the fact that she sent him off with supplies back to Warden Maeve). They even run into the Chargers at one point - Bull is on a separate mission so Hawke doesn't meet him until the Inquisition.

Astrith comes out of the fade in Inquisition (either survives because of course she would or because of leaving a Warden behind, I have done both), meets up first with a very distressed Fenris. Hubby is happy she's safe and back and alive but pissed as hell she went and got left in Fade because "Are you mad Woman!!!" "Yes and you love me." "There is no flaw in your argument." "I love you too Fenris." (I have been working on a fic for this for a while...might finish it when I'm on my upcoming vacation).

During Veilguard the pair and Carver are no where near Weisshaupt, the latter having told the First Warden to fuck off and gone to help Warden Maeve on her expedition following a letter from her by way of the Hawke's cousin the Mage Amell who had been at the Ferelden Circle with her (and survived albeit barely). Carver convinced his sister and brother-in-law to go with him so they are all off West.

(Note: If you haven't played Origins, the Human Mage is an Amell and the cousin of the Hawkes through their mother. That character origin is referenced, regardless if you played an Amell Warden, in DA2.)

Inquisition:

Female, Elven Mage named Elentari Lavellan who romanced Solas. She's also an ancient elf who participated in Fen'Harel's rebellion but due to the violent manner that shocked her into Uthenera she woke with none of her memories of having 1. Known Solas and Felassan (I have a short in progress), 2. Been a spirit let alone an ancient elf, 3. That she helped with the rebellion. The Lavellan Keeper has suspicions they keep to themselves but suggests her name is Elentari. The Keeper uses magic to help sell the lie by marking her with the Mythal Velaslin (I know I spelled it wrong). Solas recognizes her but decides she deserves better than the weight of their past...they fall in love again and well...we know what happens there.

Right before Veilguard's End Game missions her memories return the rest of the way and among the things she leaves behind before going North is a letter to be given to Harding should she not return. It's an apology for her role in hurting the Titans by taking physical form and details on what those she met were like as well as an apology for not being there to tell her this in person. She also nominates the Mage Brigit Trevelyan (Cullen's wife and my human mage inquisitor) along with her former Advisors and Charter to run the Inquisition as a council. (Cassandra is the Divine in my canon). Trevelyan and Cullen are also the babysitters for Morrigan's son at this point since he's being kept as far away from Ghila'nain and Elgar'nan as possible despite his age (20 ish I think based on the timely).

Obviously she's gonna have the "good" Solas Ending because Lavellan deserves it regardless if Solas does or not.

Veilguard:

Human Mage and House de Riva Crow, Alecto.

Yes in the game we aren't supposed to know Illario and Lucanis pregame because they need to explain things to the player but given how close Rook is to Teia and Viago there is no way on HELL they didn't know the surviving Dellamorte Scions personally. It might not have been a close relationship but they definitely knew one another. So my HC includes that Alecto knew the pair, got on better with Lucanis than Illario and she may have had a schoolgirl level crush but nothing came of it prior to Veilguard. Viago considers Alecto to be his right hand within the house and she is the closest thing he has to a sister, which is part of why he threatens to find her in the Fade if she dies. She's also Teia's best friend and the trio trained together despite being from separate houses some of that was due to Alecto having caught that the pair kept making eyes at each other so she was playing wing woman.

She has to apologize to Neve because yes, she lies about not knowing Lucanis. It's a reaction and a protective behaviour as a result of the coup they nearly wiped out Caterina's family.

There are 2 Reasons she doesn't pick a fight with Solas at the end: 1. Alecto and the squad (Lucanis and Emmrich) are exhausted and mostly tapped out. 2. She thinks the Inquisitor and Mythal/Morrigan deserves the chance to talk him down. Worst case, the breather will help if they have to fight. She does NOT expect Lavellan to go off with him but thinks that's what the elf wanted all along.

Post Veilguard...Alecto and Lucanis return to the Crows and House Dellamorte. They and the rest of the Team maintain a presence in the Lighthouse and the Crossroads, helping to clean it up from lingering Blight and closing Access as best their can to the Venatori remnants (who Lucanis makes the responsibility of his House).

The Blight in Thedas:

Those infected with it during Veilguard who didn't become Wardens and didn't die are cured as a result Elgar'nan's death. So people like Neve, the Magisters, and the Viper are Blight Free. The Wardens are still subject to the Blight but are now less likely to go mad through the Calling as a result of Solas's ongoing efforts (with Lavellan's help) to calm the core of the blight in the Fade. I think the pair of them (or even just Solas) eventually succeed but it takes a while.

I hope you enjoyed my shenanigans. Needed to get it on paper. So yeah feel free to borrow bits of them if you like. Gotta write/finish a couple short fics for these Mages so expect those. Yes my Inquisitor is named for Elbereth of Lord of the Rings.

K Bai!

[qunaricatnip]

Hiiiii it's me the person who reblogged your post about the Cousland x Loghain marriage (this is my main blog but 99% of my tumblr activity is through my side blog queenmelisende sorry for the confusion lol). Lets talk about Ferelden nobility. Their marriage would be an insanely good political alliance -- the two teyrnirs of Ferelden uniting? Cailan should be quaking in his boots. You said she would eat him alive??? I am desperate for more elaboration.

hi!! this is a sideblog too so no worries! but yeah cailan absolutely should be worried but the best part is, at least in my little au, he’s like…. 12 when all this is happening so all he really knows is that uncle loghain is leaving him (and anora) and it’s gonna be a while before they can see each other again :( it’s really maric that should be worried (and is) because he had to make a lot of concessions to the couslands for bryce and eleanor to be okay letting their baby girl go clean up maric’s mess (even if she really wanted it for spite reasons).

Tl;dr siobhan cousland was planning a coup from jump because she was raised to be queen and got told no and then maric dropped the perfect opportunity in her lap with a bow and his blessing, loghain was both collateral and a prize

siobhan in this au was born before the occupation technically ended and so her parents, still in the rebellion mindset of “ferelden first” was sort of groomed to believe that she’d one day be queen of ferelden because she’s the only noble girl within marrying age of cailan right up until anora is born and maric and/or rowan lose their minds. the couslands are Important, second to only the royal family and that shows in siobhan’s upbringing- she’s very politically minded, everything is duty/responsibility/optics with her and that’s something that (imo) would and should drive loghain crazy.

Politically on paper, her and loghain are an amazing match after celia dies right up until we remember that a) the couslands have already married their son and heir to a well known/regarded antivan trading family creating ties to a foreign, unallied country without the crowns express permission right after a war and b) loghain for all his accomplishments is not a man made for politics in any capacity that man is a Follower, he’s the type of person that need to be wholly devoted to a person/cause and c) uniting the only two surviving teyrnir’s is actually a recipe for disaster because oh my god why would you even think that maric that’s giving your subjects too much power and influence even with ferelden’s weird political structure

and siobhan knows this!! she knows that the people of gwaren don’t feel safe or supported by their teyrn and abandoned by their king and she’s also been personally slighted by the crown twice now!! so she graciously concedes to step in and throw the weight of her name around to build gwaren back up to the prominence it once had before the occupation gutted the city all while subtly reminding people that it was the couslands that actually care about the people of ferelden, its cousland gold bolstering the economy, its cousland trading partners bringing ships back into port without even saying anything because she’s a mac tir now after all that would just be gauche to rely on her maiden family name. its siobhan that runs the show and every single person in gwaren knows it, loghain is just insurance in the beginning (before whoops they’re actually in love your honor)

[ashenlavellan]

Appreciation Post - Dragon Age: Origins... Alistair Theirin

So, this comes shortly after my appreciation post for Zevran and I felt it was necessary to create one for our precious Warden boy-scout!

[again, this may be referenced by pages that contain the details about his background because there may be stuff that I may not personally remember.]

SPOILERS - this details Alistair's familial background and may be spoilers to those who are intrigued to play and have not.

[Trigger Warning: Mentions of mistreatment of a child/child abuse]

Pre-DA: Origins

So, Alistair's background is a bit confusing and initially, it was difficult for me to wrap my head around it all. However, we'll state it bluntly as to what his family tree is like so that way it's cleared up.

To put it bluntly (as well as crudely), Alistair is a bastard. A royal one, to be frank - his father is the deceased King of Ferelden, King Maric Theirin, and his mother was actually an elven Grey Warden - known as Fiona, who had grown up in an alienage within Orlais. So, he's what you call elf-blooded and this can certainly be deemed as an insult.

However, he was subjected to isolation and terrible behavior by the Arlessa of Redcliffe, Isolde, because she believed that the reason Arl Eamon had taken him in was due to the fact that he was the product of his own affair (Alistair was the product of the affair between Maric and Fiona, and they witheld this information so it would not raise a scandal and affect Eamon's sister, Queen Rowan. This suggestion was made by Loghain Mac Tir).

From there, he was booted off to the Chantry due to Isolde's frustrations and distrust - this is where he learned the teachings of the Chantry, as well as began training as a Templar - until Duncan had visited and invoked the Right of Conscription to conscript him into the Grey Wardens. This took place before he took his final vows to become a Templar and months before the events of DA: Origins...

Thoughts:

So, he was raised amongst peers who had called him a royal bastard (because the rumors of him being Eamon’s child had spread) and was treated poorly by extended family, individuals within the Chantry, and he wasn't treated with respect until he was conscripted into the Grey Wardens - most members don't give a damn about the backgrounds of their peers, except if they're capable enough to fight alongside each other against the dark spawn.

Duncan had obviously seen this in him and was determined to bring him in - however, he also knew of Alistair's background due to the fact of being friends with King Maric and Fiona (at one point). So, he knew of his background and still treated him like any other Grey Warden recruit.

Alistair felt like he finally found a place he belonged - amongst the Grey Wardens. He wasn't judged for his background simply because no one asked and just wanted to know him for who he is.

However, things do go downhill once we reach the events of DA: Origins...

Events of DA: Origins

Due to the events of DA: Origins and the aftermath of Ostagar, Alistair is forced to come to terms that [the player] and himself are the sole Grey Wardens within Ferelden and they're mere recruits. They're not seasoned enough and equipped to deal with the task of recovering the troops to fight against a likely 5th Blight - he's well aware of this after the run-in with Morrigan and Flemeth, the Witch of the Wilds.

However, he's hopeful.

With treaties in hand and a growing amount of skilled allies; a seasoned Qunari warrior, a lay sister who turns out to be a former bard from Orlais, the "daughter" of the Witch of the Wilds, and so forth.

As their travels began to stretch across the land and accomplishing tasks that seemed impossible, he's more than hopeful that they can bring an end to the the 5th Blight and avenge their fallen comrades - including Duncan, who lost his life beside King Cailan.

With all of the shit that he's faced and dealt with, it's no surprise that his coping mechanism is witty one-liners and humor... in fact, most of us would likely do the same. However, he's more than just some form of "comedic relief," and his background and personality shows it. Especially once you romance him.

Romancing Alistair

He's a sweetheart and a hopeless romantic, for sure. Growing up and being treated as a bastard, it's no surprise that he's careful and slow-going at the start because the relationship is so new and delicate to him... he's never been in a relationship, much less in love.

We tease him and poke fun at him for being a virgin, but it's another part to treasure about him - it means that he's serious about the Warden and that he's not in the relationship to toy with their heart, much less his own.

It also clues us in and makes it easier to understand why he's so hesitant in sharing his background; because the Warden will look at him for who he is and not for his lineage. They won't see him as a royal bastard, but the Grey Warden recruit that is a goofball and means well.

This goes to show that he's also scared of ruining what he's built together with the Warden and he would be crushed if that changed, even the slightest because of his lineage.

Depending on your reaction, it could definitely make (if you love him, regardless) or break (if you feel disillusioned and break up with him) and would affect him in the long run. Your Warden is his first love and he would blame himself for ruining it - he would learn to accept it, but he would constantly blame himself... likely to the end of time.

End-game Romancing (King vs. Grey Warden)

The biggest part of his romance - ascending the throne and accepting his lineage, or forgoing it and rising through the ranks of the Grey Wardens.

Now, this becomes tricky - depending on your own origin, you could ascend the throne with him and become the Queen of Ferelden and him the King of Ferelden (Cousland Origin)... Or, you become his mistress (Surana/Mahariel/Tabris/Brosca/Aeducan) whilst he marries Anora Mac Tir.

Or, if you have him choose to remain as a Grey Warden, then the pair of you would travel alongside each other as Anora would become the sole leader of Ferelden.

[This is also affected due to earlier decisions, specifically his loyalty quest and the responses afterward... AKA, Non-Hardened Alistair vs. Hardened Alistair]

King of Ferelden -

He is more hesitant in becoming King of Ferelden if you make him Non-Hardened after his loyalty mission and may choose not to accept his lineage. So, most of the decision/outcomes are based on him being Hardened Alistair.

Hardened (Cousland Origin): if you romance him as a Cousland and wish for him to take the throne, he will confidently accept the responsibility and claim his right to the throne - he will also be further pleased if the Warden announces to become the future Queen of Ferelden, stating that there will be a wedding and that the pair will rule together. Anora will express frustration - however, the Cousland family is second to the Theirin line and a legitimate heir with Theirin blood? She has no claim over the throne.

Hardened (Non-Cousland Origin): if you are romancing Alistair as any other background, he will not let your character go so easily if you place him on the throne and subject him to marriage with Anora/alone. This, in turn, will make your character the official mistress or concubine (whichever you prefer) unless you explicitly have the Warden break up with Alistair.

Non-Hardened (Non-Cousland Origin): This will only happen if you have Alistair marry Anora, regardless of your background, and he will break things off with your character. I don't suggest this route unless you're purposely being cruel towards your Warden, and possibly killing them off. [wow, that's extreme... nice lmao]

Anyways, there's a LOT to Alistair's background and storyline throughout DA: Origins, but when you include his romance? There's SO much and I really appreciate how much thought and love went into him - he's a great starter romance for the Dragon Age series as well as a great character.

Much love and appreciation for our sweetheart Alistair! ^.^

[laurelsofhighever]

Fandom: Dragon Age (pre-Origins) Characters/pairings: Maric x OC Chapter: 7/8 Rating: T Chapter CW: none Fic summary:

Hoping to cool off his charged relationship with Queen Rowan, Maric Theirin has taken his son Cailan to Redcliffe under the guise of a royal progress to acquaint the prince with his future kingdom. When word comes from Denerim that the queen has fallen ill and that tensions are running high thanks to an impending Orlesian embassy, the pleasant trip loses its charm, and bad quickly turns to worse. The only comfort in this sea of madness comes in the form of Gwawr, a Chasind healer working in the castle kitchens. Well aware of his duties and determined not to take advantage, there is nevertheless something beguiling about her, and as their time together wears on, Maric finds himself facing a choice that could have dire consequences for himself, his family, and the kingdom he has struggled for so long to build. Or, how Maric met and fell in love with Alistair’s mother.

Also on AO3

Incense curled upwards in the still air of the chapel, a pale, twisting thread that glowed like silver in the moonlight streaming through the high, narrow windows. The marble statue of Andraste the Suppliant bathed in the glow of votive candles lit at the altar, her carved face soft as the scent of beeswax, cold as the hard boards beneath Maric’s knees as he proffered himself before her. He had forgone the comfort of a hassock. Uncaring as he clasped his hands before him, he mumbled the words of the Chant he had dutifully learned as a boy, his voice a low rasp in the empty space.

I shall not be left to wander the drifting roads of the Fade, for there is no darkness, nor death either, in the Maker's Light and nothing that He has wrought shall be lost.

Out of sight, close to his heart, Eamon’s letter crinkled as he rocked in his grief. Most of it was perfectly ordinary, a vassal’s report on the seasonal fortunes of his arling – the rotation of crops, the condition of the roads, the hopes for the summer trading season – but at the bottom, impartial and unadorned, he had passed the news that Gwawr was dead. The news had been framed as a word for Cailan as he had seemed so fond of the woman who had saved his life, but Maric could read well enough behind the ink to know it was a courtesy to him. No detail had been included for the manner of her death, but it was not hard to guess.

One by one, you will destroy all those you love, Flemeth had said.

Shame and loss crowded his thoughts, disbelief the only palliative for the tattered, gaping hole in his chest. With each beat of his agonised heart, a new memory surfaced, a new thought of Gwawr’s smile or the practiced movements of her healer’s hands or the imagined laugh of the child he would now never meet. A whole life of joy made too brief. Their blood on his hands as certainly as Katriel’s.

All he had left now was Rowan’s slow demise. The months had passed in spurts of decline as her condition worsened and the pain made it difficult for her to think. A healer from the Circle had been brought and now kept a permanent room in the palace in the hopes he might help manage the symptoms, but even with that respite the shadow of Death grew longer every day. Only Cailan, with the vain hope of the young, remained adamant that she would recover. Maric had stopped trying to puncture that innocence; there would be plenty of time in the future for the world to prove its cruelty.

[aces-to-apples]

Every time I remember Loghain's explanation for why Maric didn't acknowledge Alistair I die a little more, like what

["It would have ruined Rowan, after all. She'd be reduced to a concubine in the eyes of our neighbors, and put Cailan's status as heir in question."]

Asdfghjkl my guy what in the fuck are you talking about? Cailan was older and legitimate either way, Rowan was the warrior queen of a liberated country, and oh yeah, she'd already been dead for two years?? Like I get that maybe the timeline and lore hadn't been entirely hammered out yet but that's not how this works, that's not how any of this works???

[grimgiggles]

Wow. Wow wow wow. How do we feel about Anora?

How about how does Anora feel? Do you think she knows that her husband's mother the queen, who died in their childhood, was the love of her own father's life? And now as queen the people call her, Anora, by the same nickname that they gave Queen Rowan, the Rose of Ferelden - how does that make her feel? Do you think it affected her relationship with her father? Do you think she understood why?

She had King Cailan wrapped around her finger from the day they met as children. Do you think she loved him the same way? How deep was her grief at his loss?

But she trusted her father implicitly, allowing him to make choices she knew were dubious, and continued to love him staunchly after she was convinced of his being in the wrong. Loghain wasn't only her father, he was her hero. She wouldn't even consider marrying the one who killed him, not even for the sake of the nation. It is not an option. It goes deeper than politics, than duty, than her calling to lead.

And then, if she had to marry again to hold on to her position, how does she feel about that? Does she think it's utter bullshit that she has to hitch herself to a man almost ten years her junior? Who potentially knows even less about statecraft and is more reminiscent of her father-in-law than her dead husband (if it's Alistair), and much less inclined to just give her what she wants, and probably doesn't fully trust her because of his bad blood with her father--

She never produced an heir. She and Cailan had no children. How does she feel about that? How much did it bother her that there was talk of her being unfit to be queen because of that, even though five minutes' conversation with the royal couple was enough to tell anyone which one of them had the mind for statecraft (hint: not Cailan)? Did she want children? Does she wish she had a child or two, someone with a little bit of Cailan and a little bit of Loghain and a little bit of Rowan (Maker help us, a little bit of Maric) in them, to keep those people alive for her?

How did she feel about her whole life being defined by her relationships with the men in her life (or not in her life, in the case of the nonexistent heir)? She was born and raised to rule Ferelden. If, after all is said and done, all pipers paid, all sacrifices made, she is finally able to do so on her own merit and under no influence but her own, how does she feel about that?

We don't know. We get very little of Anora's perspective. Another Dragon Age character that I definitely do not Think Too Much about.

the real acid test for dragon age people is how they feel about anora

[inquisitorismone]

If i were writing this I would definitely have had alistair born before Rowan died

[vigilskeep]

Who’s Rowena’s bio-mom?

her name was Alysanni!

i haven’t fleshed her out yet. i was thinking maybe that she was from the denerim alienage and she and cyrion had a youthful romance ending in a swift marriage when she got pregnant. she died when rowena was very very young. simple sickness, i would think. i doubt that’s uncommon in a place like the alienage. and already having a baby daughter was why cyrion, who seems a little well-off compared to other city elves, was less eligible for his remarriage and instead had a “troublemaker” like adaia picked out for him

... and they were possibly so glad to arrange anything for him that they overlooked adaia being some kind of spy or friend of red jenny or bard or crow or whatever i eventually decide she was up to. i think she was up to some stuff. i think that her friends who you’ve never met showing up at your wedding, when according to leliana’s song adaia only died like two or three years ago, is Weird.

i do think alysanni was a fairly devoted andrastian and that was why cyrion drew certain lines when it came to adaia and rowena’s Dalish Studies, and that was a point of contention. i also think alysanni was responsible for picking out a relatively human name—inspired by rowan guerrin, maric’s queen—for rowena, and probably dropped the “anni” off her own. maybe she was involved in the fereldan rebellion in some way and really wanted to be a part of the theirins’ new era, really thought that elves who did well could make it, now that the orlesians were gone?

[ustrinamor]

Me the other day, wanting to write Katriel but I haven’t read the actual novel so I’m scared I’ll butcher her characterization: oh I....better....not....

*hours of research leads to me discovering that the characterization in the book was all over the place and not even entirely present for Katriel and she is reduced to tropes and is more defined by her looks than her personality in the eyes of the narrator and her potential is wasted under a male-centric lens*

Me, rubbing my grubby little canon divergent hands together:

*to the tune of Ghostbusters*

When a badass girl

is ruined for the male gaze

g u e s s   w h a t   I ’ l l   u s e ?

*＊✿❀✿＊* *＊✿❀❀✿＊* *＊✿❀✿＊*

・.・゜゜・ H E A D C A N O N S ・゜゜・.・

*＊✿❀✿＊* *＊✿❀❀✿＊* *＊✿❀✿＊*

[gwah--ren]

The crown upon her brow was Queen Mairyn's, and Queen Fionne's after her, and every Fereldan queen after — it was nothing short of a miracle that it had survived the Orlesian occupation without being mutilated in some way. That it was not relieved of its jewels and its gold melted down to be repurposed by King Meghren had always shocked her. Queen Rowan had passed before Elethea was born, but when she came to court, she had always been transfixed by the portrait of her wearing it in the Great Hall. Now it sat atop her head, however surreal it may be to wear it. She could only imagine how Maric's crown felt on Alistair's head, the father he had never met, who had burdened him with an inheritance he had never wanted. While Elethea had been raised all of her life for this, or something like it, they had hidden Alistair away in some monastery for most of his life. The pomp and pageantry of court life was second nature to Elethea, groomed to be some Arl or Bann's wife and rule his lands and estate. But politics, intrigue, etiquette would all need to be taught to her gentle - hearted husband.

"Oh does he now? I hadn't heard that rumor yet," she purrs, running a thumb along the back of his hand. Savoring the sight of him on his knees before her. She would need to glue herself to his side tonight — not for lack of trust in him or his abilities, of course. But he was still so fresh to his position, only anointed a few short months ago. The lords and ladies of the Landsmeet may have agreed to appoint him king, but they would all have their own agendas. He was not so easily manipulated as he may have once been, but they spoke a language he had yet to be schooled in. No matter, she could easily disguise her protective stance beside him as a besotted newlywed unwilling to leave her new husband's side for even a moment. "Well, if it's of any comfort to you, my father always said Maric was burdened by his crown as well. And the duties that came with it," Unlike the late queen, Elethea did have a few memories of the late king. It was strange to think that he was her father-in-law, now. He was a solemn man, but wise, and terribly tall. She had to bite her tongue when it came to Cailan, however. As far as she heard, the burdens of leadership had always fallen upon Anora's shoulders, though he seemed happy to take the credit. She winds her arms around Alistair's middle, drawing in close. "They can wait a bit longer, I think."

This was a day he’d thought about for so long now that he can hardly believe it’s come — however, he imagined there’d be more pushback, that the people of Ferelden could hardly stomach the idea of a half - elvhen bastard sitting on the throne. He’d convinced himself he was unfit. But something Elethea, his now wife told him before the Landsmeet stuck with him: Everyone is out for themselves. You should learn that. It hurt him at first, but she was right — and he plead his case for king with her by his side. The Archdemon fell with Loghain, his coronation went by without incident, and now they were being invited to things. King Alistair and Queen Elethea, the guests of honor! It felt almost silly.

“ Is she now? ” Alistair looks at Elethea with an amused look as she lowers that kingly chain upon his shoulders, then takes her hands with his. “ Well, I’ve heard a rumor that the King likes that his Queen is so possessive. Finds it terribly sexy, in fact. ” He’s knelt before her, a sight he’s sure many would find shocking, but one he doesn’t mind being in. Only for her. It was all for her. Alistair rises to his feet, his hands still in hers, beaming from ear to ear. “ And you look radiant. It’s as if the crown was made because they knew you would wear it. ” They both wore ancient crowns, a reminder of the history their kingdom had endured to make it to this moment. “ Still feels a little heavy. How did Cailan and my father deal with this? ” They didn’t have sensitive ears to deal with, that was probably it. Maker, it feels like his heart is going to beat out of his chest. “ Let’s go. I bet they’re waiting for us. ”

[laurelsofhighever]

Fandom: Dragon Age (pre-Origins) Characters/pairings: Maric x OC Chapter: 6/8 Rating: T Chapter CW: pregnancy Fic summary:

Hoping to cool off his charged relationship with Queen Rowan, Maric Theirin has taken his son Cailan to Redcliffe under the guise of a royal progress to acquaint the prince with his future kingdom. When word comes from Denerim that the queen has fallen ill and that tensions are running high thanks to an impending Orlesian embassy, the pleasant trip loses its charm, and bad quickly turns to worse. The only comfort in this sea of madness comes in the form of Gwawr, a Chasind healer working in the castle kitchens. Well aware of his duties and determined not to take advantage, there is nevertheless something beguiling about her, and as their time together wears on, Maric finds himself facing a choice that could have dire consequences for himself, his family, and the kingdom he has struggled for so long to build. Or, how Maric met and fell in love with Alistair’s mother.

14th Guardian

My lord Arl Eamon,

Allow me to overlook the usual formalities. I regret not having a chance to speak with you before I left Denerim, but the importance of my words here cannot be understated. Perhaps it has already come to your attention that His Majesty, King Maric, has found regard in one of your servants: the herbalist who attended Prince Cailan in his illness during the summer. Perhaps what you do not know is the extent to which she has taken this fondness and enjoined the king to serve herself. I would go so far as to say she has acted in a manner not unheard of in these Chasind witches, and charmed him out of good sense.

It is not my desire to gossip about His Majesty’s affairs, but perhaps my lord has already seen the signs of warning in their conduct. This ill-advised infatuation has the potential to cause great damage to Ferelden, and to the state of Queen Rowan’s delicate health. It is my fear that, if she should learn of the affair, it will cause her great suffering not only in the anguish caused by knowledge of it, but also in the secondary effect of hastening the progress of her illness. I write to implore your aid in this matter, for your sister’s sake and for the good of the Ferelden she worked so hard to see freed. His Majesty must see sense before this woman turns his head completely to her whims.

I await your response and stand ready to heed my lord’s advice.

Faithfully,

Loghain Mac Tir, Teyrn of Gwaren

Read the rest on AO3!

[becauseanders]

Just because I am curious, why do you hate Arl Eamon? Lol

sorry i've been sitting on this for a bit, brain no work, lol

i am also sure others could explain this far more eloquently, and i know others already have, but also i do have a lot of feelings here so… (also i am terrible with tone in text so please know that i do just have a lot of emotions here and am at no point trying to come off as too over the top or aggressive or anything)

but anyway yeah, eamon "i am going to create a child who is so unloved and unwanted" guerrin is definitely not my favorite

i won't lie, i despise isolde far more for the fact she pretty much just hated alistair on sight purely for existing (i still scream every time she does the whole aggressive "what are you doing here" shit to alistair when you first meet her in redcliffe) while eamon was just a negligent pushover, but it still pisses me off to no end that eamon was charged with taking care of this child and then isolde came along as he was just like…nah, i'm good, i choose her, surely there will be no negative consequences to this child's psyche here (and i also find it a bit cringe that he would marry someone with so much disdain towards alistair to begin with; i mean who knows, maybe she hid that part in the beginning, but it very much has the same energy to me as when the kids hate the step-parent and the bio-parent just doesn't seem to care when they should 100% be putting their children first, if that makes any sense? and i get alistair wasn't actually eamon's kid and that it doesn't seem like he really had much choice about taking him in, but then how much of his own disdain was there already and how much more complicit in how isolde treated him is he? at this rate, would it maybe actually have been better if he'd never even tried to "raise" alistair?)

and the way alistair blames himself for the fact that eamon eventually just stopped visiting him in the chantry after they sent him away because he was sad and angry and acted out—which is honestly fair because he was a child who was straightup betrayed by his guardian—like eamon as the adult should be the mature one here, as alistair was, once again, a child… and yeah it was more on isolde as far as we can tell that alistair was just thrown to the wolves chantry to start with (the way "eamon guerrin bashing" was already an ao3 tag but i had to be the one to create an "isolde guerrin bashing" tag for my one alistair/warden fic is still wild to me, lol), but it really just bothers me so much that he met alistair's hurt and not knowing how to handle that hurt with basically just being like "okay i'm not wasting any more time here then bye"

i will also acknowledge there's potentially some fuckery here from bioware's continuity errors—eamon needing to hide his parentage because his existence coming as a result of king maric having cheated on queen rowan being in the da:o codex but then the calling giving us the background that rowan had already passed and fiona didn't want alistair to grow up burdened by the knowledge of his royal blood, which eamon then presumably went ahead and told him anyway since he still knew about it—so who knows how the story could have gone if they'd thought of the events of the calling earlier and if bioware could just be consistent about their own lore, but even with just the way alistair talks about his childhood in da:o alone i spent the game wishing i could end that motherfucker's life

long and short i just think the dude sucks and that alistair deserved better, and it is very much the guerrins' fault he may well never believe that