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Gods ,Goddess of the Celtic Lands

The Gods and Goddesses of the Celtic Lands

The Celts were very religious and believed in reincarnation and the migration of the soul to the after life after death. They did not believe in punishment after death. The Celtic Pantheon held many female deities of primary importance ranging from war goddesses to mother goddesses to ruling goddesses. They also believed in 3 aspects of the God/dess, three aspects of a single god. The teachings of the Druids could be summed up quite easily: worship the gods, be strong, courageous and do no evil. Human sacrifices by the blade, burning, or drowning were done because it was believed that a life must be given for a life, as in murder, accidental killing, extreme illness, or to be spared from the horrors of battle. Generally, those who were killed were prisoners of war or criminals. This practice does not, however, seem to have been used much at all in Ireland and Britain.

Female were equal to males and held just as much power. The Priestesses were highly revered. Priestesses sang the dying to sleep, did charms, enchantments, prophecies, healing, etc. They knew the power of words, stones and herbs. One of the central features of their Groves was a cauldron, bowl or pool. Curses were cast for any mistreatment of women. Red-hair females were sacred to the war Goddesses, as their hair was the color of blood.

The Gods and Goddesses

Abarta Location: Ireland. Description: A God of the Tuatha De Danann. "Performer of feats." Rules Over: Understanding the destructive nature of jealousy, teamwork.

Accasbel Location: Ireland. Description: A Partholan who is credited with making the first tavern (pub) in Ireland. Most likely was an early God of wine or meade. Rules Over: Mabon vine harvest, Beltane's blessing of the meade.

Achtland Description: Goddess queen who no mortal man could sexually satisfy, so she took a giant from the faery realm as her mate. Rules Over: Sex magick.

Addanc Other Names: Affanc. Location: Wales. Description: Primordial Giant/God who created and rode the crest of the flood near his home on the Lake of Waves. Was once a deity worshipped by the people of the lake region but who is now reduced to faery or evil demi-god. In modern times the word Addanc is used to describe any evil fresh water-dwelling faery of Wales. Rules Over: Erasing an event/person/etc from your mind, erasing unwanted thoughts so you can have a fresh start.

Adsullata Location: Britain. Description: Goddess of hot springs who came to Brittany from Celtic Gaul. A minor sun Goddess in her own right before the time when the Cels relegated the majority of their sun images to male deities and their moon images to female ones. Rules Over: Purification, solar magick.

Aerten Other Names: Aerfen, Aeron. Location: Wales, Cornish. Description: Goddess of Fate who presided over the outcome of war between several Celtic clans. She had a shrine at Glyndyfrdwy on the banks of the River Dee, where legend has it that three human sacrifices had to be made every three years to ensure success in future battles. Her symbol was the double-bladed axe. Rules Over: Peace, overcoming enemies.

Aesun Location: Ireland. Description: Early Irish God whose name means "to be." Most likely part of a lost creation myth. Aesun was also known by the Persians and Umbria and Scandinavia.

Aeval Other Names: Aebhel. Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess who in popular legend is a faery, who held a midnight court to hear the debate on whether the men of her province were keeping their women sexually satisfied or not. She commanded that the men bow to the women's sexual wishes. Rules Over: Lust, sex magick, wisdom in making judgements.

Agrona Location: Wales. Description: Slaughter goddess often equated with the Morrigu. Rules Over: War, slaughter.

Aibell Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of Munster whose legends were almost lost until she was 'demoted' to a faery queen. She had in her possession a magickal harp which did her bidding, but which human ears could not hear or else the eavesdropper would soon die. She was associated with stones and leaves. Rules Over: Protection, music, earth magick, ecological magick.

Aibheaog Location: Ireland. Description: Fire goddess who had a magick well that contained mighty healing powers, especially effective against toothache so long as the petitioner left a small white stone at the well to represent the decayed tooth. She is associated with wells and the number 5. Rules Over: Healing, Midsummer well rituals.

Aife Other Names: Aoife. Location: Ireland, Scotland. Description: Goddess and queen of the Isle of Shadow. She ran a school for warriors, but her school was less successful than her sister, Scathach's, school. Aife was not vulnerable to magick, and commanded a legion of fierce horsewomen. She stole an alphabet of knowledge from the deities to give to humankind. For that infraction, she was transformed into a crane by the elder deities. Supposedly, she was accidently killed by hunters but yet others say she still haunts the countryside in this form today. She is associated with the three fold law and the crane. Rules Over: Protection, general knowledge, teaching, pathworking, lessons of the threefold law.

Aimend Location: Ireland, Scotland. Description: Minor Sun Goddess who is thought to be the daughter of the king of the region known as Corco Loidhe.

Aine of Knockaine Location: Ireland. Description: Moon Goddess who was connected with the Summer Solstice. Rules Over: Crops and cattle.

Airmid Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of medicine and all healing arts to the Tuatha De Danann. She was looked upon as a magician and herbalist of great reputation. She was also a craftswoman who, with her brother, helped create the famed silver hand of Nuada. Rules Over: Magick, healing, learning, herbalism, understanding family loyalty, inspiration to craftspeople.

Albion Description: Son of a forgotten Sea God who may have been part of a lost creation myth. Was once said to rule the Celtic world. His name became the poetic name for Britain.

Alisanos Description: Gaulish God of stones about whom very little is known. Probably a deity of the standing stones of Brittany. Rules Over: Fertility.

Almha Location: Ireland. Description: Basically all her myths are lost to us today. What is known about her is that she was a Goddess of the Tuatha De Danann and that a hill in southern Ireland was named for her.

Ambisagrus Other Names: Bussumarus. Location: Britain. Description: Originally from Gaul, where his Celtic identity was lost during the Roman takeover where he took all the characteristics of the Roman God Jupiter. Weather deity who controlled the rain, wind, hail and fog. Rules Over: Weather magick, leadership.

Ancasta Description: A Goddess who survives only in her name through an inscription on a stone in Hampshire. It is a possibility she is related to Andraste.

Andraste Location: Britain. Description: War Goddess who was evoked on the eve of the battle to bring favor, and possibly ritual sacrifices were given to her. Queen Boadicea of the Iceni offered sacrifieces to Andraste in a sacred grove before fighting the Romans on her many compaigns against them. Rules Over: Overcoming enemies.

Angus Mac Og Other Names: Angus of the Brugh, Oengus of the Bruig, Angus Mac Oc, Aengus MacOg. Location: Ireland. Description: One of the Tuatha De Dannan who had a golden harp that could create incredibly sweet music. He had a brugh (fairy palace) on the banks of the Boyne. Rules Over: Youth, love, music magick, protection of lovers, dream work, creativity and beauty.

Anu Other Names: Anann, Dana, Dana-Ana, Catana. Location: Ireland. Description: Mother Earth, Great Goddess, Greatest of all Goddesses. Another aspect of the Morrigu. The fertility Goddess, sometimes she formed a trinity with Badb and Macha. Her priestesses comforted and taught the dying. Fires were lit for her on Midsummer. Guardian of cattle and health. Rules Over: Fertility, prosperity, comfort, health, cattle.

Arawn Other Names: Arawyn, Arrawn, Arawen. Location: Wales. Description: King of Hell, God of Annwn. Ruled the underground kingdom of the dead. Rules Over: Revenge, terror, war, spirit contact, picking magickal names, strengthening friendships, reincarnation.

Ard Greimme Location: Ireland, Scotland. Description: Father of the famed warrioress sister Aife and Scathach. Once a Sun God. Rules Over: Fire magick.

Ardwinna Other Names: Dea Arduinna. Location: Britain. Description: Woodland and animal Goddess who haunted the forests of Ardennes riding a wild boar. She commanded a fine for any animal killed on her land, yet asked for animal sacrifices on her feast day. Rules over: Animals, familiars, woodlands.

Ariadne Description: The only Greek Goddess known to have been worshipped in Celtic Gaul. Her name is derived from the word arachnid. Ariadne spun the universe from the primordial darkness like a spider spins her web, a theme with echoes in the creation myths of many other cultures. She is thought to be very 'unceltic' and to have been brought with the Celts on their long journey across the European continent. She is associated with spider web, sulphur, thread, yarn. Rules Over: Protection, magick, manifestation, time.

Arianrhod Location: Wales. Description: Keeper of the circling Silver Wheel of Stars, a symbol of time and karma. Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess. Honored at the Full Moon. Rules Over: Beauty, fertility, reincarnation.

Arnamentia Description: Goddess of spring waters who was once a minor solar deity. Rules Over: Healing and purification.

Artaius Description: God of sheep and cattle herders from Celtic Gaul. Later, the Romans identified him with Mercury. Rules Over: Sheep, cattle.

King Arthur Location: Wales, Cornwall. Description: Most likely based on a seventh-century king named Artorius who led the fight to drive the Saxons from Britain, and later his legend was merged with that of a now-forgotten father/sacrificial God. Because of the strength of his legends, some consider him a God (even if only archtypically), father figure, warrior, leader, sacrificial king, protector and defender of justice and mercy. Son of King Uther Pendragon and Igraine, the Duchess of Cornwall. Taught and protected by the magician/Druid Merlin, married Guinevere, and was mortally wounded in battle by his son Modred (Morgan LeFay's child). Arthur's body was carried to Avalon to sleep and await the time when he is needed. He is a sacrificial God/king in the purest sense. The oldest legends surrounding him are found in The Black Book of Caermarthen. Rules Over: Nearly anything is said to be able to be helped by King Arthur.

Artio Description: Bear Goddess whose shrine once stood in what is now Berne, Switzerland. She is usually depicted as being surrounded by full baskets and animals. Goddess of fertility and wildlife. She is associated with the bear, claws and teeth, geode stones. Rules Over: Fertility, animals, strenght, courage.

Badb Other Names: Badhbh, Badb Catha, Bellona, Cauth Bodva. Location: Ireland. Description: The cauldron of ever-producing life. War Goddess and wife of Net. Mother aspect of Triple Goddess. Associated with the cauldron, crows and ravens. Rules Over: Life, wisdom, inspiration, enlightenment.

Baile of the Honeyed Speech Location: Ireland. Description: God of Blarney, the speech valued in Irish culture. Rules Over: Quick and clear thinking, speeches, ideas, impressing someone, mental activity, speaking, love magick, protection for lovers, blessing magickal wands.

Ban-Chuideachaidh Moire Location: Ireland. Description: Old Goddess who appears in modern Irish legends as the midwife who assisted the Christian Virgin Mary with her birth, and was also a title applied to St. Bridget (very obviously referring to the goddess Brigit). A once forgotten goddess of childbirth. Rules Over: Childbirth.

Banba Location: Ireland. Description: Part of a triad with Fotia and Eriu. They used magick to repel invaders. Rules Over: Repulsion of invaders.

Barinthus Location: Wales. Description: Charioteer to the residents of the Otherworld who was most likely once a Sea or Sun God.

Bechoil Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess whose legends have been lost. Perhaps an early version of Dana.

Becuma Location: Ireland. Description: Tuatha Goddess who ruled over magickal boats and had a weakness for sleeping with High Kings at Tara. At that time, kings ruled by permission of their consorts and thus the act of her sleeping with them gave these human men permission to rule over the divine Tuatha De Danann. Becuma was an outcast among her own people because of her behavior and eventually the Milesians took over Ireland, supplanting the Tuatha altogether. She was also banished to the human world for having a torrid romance with Gaiar, a son of Manann. She married Conn of the Hundred Battles. She was fiercely jealous of his pride in his son, Art, and sought to banish him from Conn's kingdom but her plans failed and she left. She now resides in the Otherworld. Rules Over: Overcoming jealousy.

Bel Other Names: Belenus, Belinos, Beli Mawr, Beli, Bile, Beltene. Location: Ireland. Description: Closely connected with the Druids. His name was seen in festivals of Beltane/Beltain. Cattles were also driven through the bonfires for purification and fertility. Rules Over: Science, healing, hot springs, fire, success, prosperity, purification, crops vegetation, fertility, cattle.

Belisama Description: Goddess of the Mersey River.

Berecyntia Description: An Earth Goddess, perhaps a Gaulish version of Brid. Rules Over: Elemental earth magick, fertility.

Bladud Location: Wales. Description: Sun God who is associated with the sacred English hot spring known as Aquae Sulis. Depicted as a very virile male figure with flaming hair. Rules Over: Protection, employment, any endeavors governed by the Sun.

Blai Location: Ireland. Description: A Faery Queen with a burgh of her own Drumberg. Represents a personal or mascot deity to Ossian. Rules Over: Faery contact.

Blathnat Location: Ireland. Description: Probably a form of the more popular Welsh Goddess, Blodeuwedd. She traveled the island with three cows tied to her cauldron and commanded that warriors perform feats of superhuman proportions for her amusement. Associated with Roses, cauldron and cow trinities. Rules Over: Abundance, fertility.

Blodeuwedd Other Names: Wlodwin, Blancheflor. Location: Wales. Description: Lily maid of Celtic initiation ceremonies. Known as the Ninefold Goddess of the Western Isles of Paradise. Created by Math and Gwydion as a wife for Lleu. The Maiden form of the Triple Goddess, her symbol was the owl. Rules Over: Flowers, wisdom, lunar mysteries, initiations.

Bo Dhu Location: Ireland. Description: Black cow Goddess who helped bring fertility to barren Ireland. Rules Over: Fertility, anti-hunger, prosperity.

Bo Find Location: Ireland. Description: "White cow." This is how she manifested long long ago on the barren and fruitless mass that would become green Ireland. She came from the Western Sea with her sisters, the Red Cow Goddess (Bo Ruadh), and the black cow Goddess (Bo Dhu). These colors are also those of the Celtic Triple Goddess, which they obviously represent. The black cow went to the south of Ireland and the red traveled to the north while Bo Find came to the center. When Bo Find came to the site which is thought to be near modern-day Tara, she gave birth to twin calves, a male and female who would feed her people forever and ever. Then she and her sisters returned to the sea. They are honored at Mabon. Rules Over: Fertility, anti-hunger, prosperity.

Bo Ruadh Location: Ireland. Description: Red cow Goddess who helped bring fertility to barren Ireland. Rules Over: Fertility, anti-hunger, prosperity.

Boann Other Names: Boannan, Boyne. Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of the river Boyne. Rules Over: Healing, fertility, water magick.

Bodua Description: War Goddess much like the Irish Badb. Rules Over: War.

Bormanus Description: Thought to be one of the earliest Celtic Gods. Nothing is known about him today though he may have later surfaced as Borvo, a Breton God of hot springs. His name appears in cameo in old manuscripts and carvings.

Borvo Location: Britain. Description: God of hot springs who replaced his mother, Sirona, in this function when her story was patriarchalized. The spring he ruled had great healing powers. Rules Over: Healing.

Bran The Blessed Other Names: Benedigeidfran, Bran, Bran MacFebal. Location: Wales. Description: A giant associated with ravens. Rules Over: Prophecy, the arts, leaders, war, the sun, music, writing.

Branwen Other Names: Branwyn. Location: Manx, Wales. Description: Venus of the Northern Seas, of the the three matriarchs of Britain. Lady of the Lake. Rules Over: Love, beauty.

Breasal Location: Wales, Cornwall. Description: High King of the entire planet who made his home in the Otherworld which is sometimes called Hy- or I-Breasal in his honor. Some believe Breasal and his mystical western island might not have been the legendary continent of Atlantis. His world is visible to humans on only one night every seven years. When Portuguese explorers reached South America they mistakenly thought they had landed on Breasal's world and named the land they discovered "Brazil" in his honor. Rules Over: Namespirit contact, guidance and protection for travelers and explorers.

Bregon Location: Ireland. Description: Minor Celtic figure who plays a role as either the human son of Milesius or the divine father of Bile and Ith.

Brenos Description: War God to whom the victories at Allia and Delphi were attributed.

Briant Description: Goddess of the river which holds her name. Rules Over: Water magick.

Brigantia Other Names: Britannia. Location: Britain. Description: A Goddess of sovereignty and often thought of as the Brigit of England. In 1667 Charles I had her face placed on the coinage where it remains today, reviving an old custom, first instated by the Romans who adopted her as their own. Rules Over: Sovereignty, self-control, leadership, protection of your land, prosperity.

Brigit Other Names: Brid, Brig, Brigid, Brighid, Brigindo. Location: Ireland, Wales, Spain, France. Description: Associated with Imbolc. She had an exclusive female priesthood at Kildare and an ever-burning fire. She had 19 priestesses representing the 19-year cycle of the Celtic "Great Year." Rules Over: Fire, fertility, the hearth, all feminine arts and crafts, martial arts, healing, physicians, agriculture, inspiration, learning, poetry, divination, prophecy, smithcraft, animal husbandry, love, witchcraft, occult knowledge.

Bronach Location: Ireland. Description: Crone Goddess linked to forgotten Samhain rituals. Reclaim this forgotten Samhain Goddess at your own seasonal rites.

Caer Ibormeith Location: Ireland. Description: Usually thought of as a Goddess of sleep and dreams and a less violent version of Mare. She usually took the form of a swan who lived on a lake called Dragon's Mouth and she wore a golden chain with one hundred and thirty golden balls on a silver chain worn around her neck. Aengus MacOg fell in love with her in a dream and sought her when he awoke. When he found her he, too, became a swan and they flew to Bruigh na Boinne to Aengus' megalithic site north of Tara where they sang the most beautiful song which put all of Ireland into a peaceful slumber for three days and three nights. She is connected to the horse and the moon. Rules Over: Dreams, prophetic dreams, falling asleep, music magick.

Caillech Other Names: Cailleach, Carlin, Mala Liath. Location: Ireland, Scotland, Manx. Description: Goddess in her Destroyer aspect. Rules Over: Disease, plauge, cursing, wisdom, seasonal rites, weather magick.

Caireen Location: Ireland. Description: Once a protective Mother Goddess, a defender of you and patron of children. Associated with holly leaves. Rules Over: Children, protection.

Cally Berry Location: Ireland. Description: Often equated with the Caillech Bheur of Scotland althought in northern Irish legends she appears as a maiden Goddess, representation of spring, the hunt and guardian of animals. It is thought that she might be a derivative of Artemis/Diana and that the crone images were later slapped onto her at a later date when the churchmen were attempting to purge her image. She sometimes took the form of a crane to fly about and predict storms. She is credited with being the creatrix of the Irish mountains, traditionally seen as the crone's earthly home. Rules Over: Weather forecasting, animal magick, ecological magick.

Campestres Description: Campestres is the Roman name of a lost Goddess of fields that was probably a fertility or harvest Goddess in Celtic Gaul. Rules Over: Fertility.

Camulos Description: War God from the region of Colchester which was once called by the Latin name Camulodunum in his honor. Rules Over: War.

Canola Location: Ireland. Description: Believed to be one of the oldest of the Irish deities, Canola was the inventor of Ireland's long loved symbol, the harp. Lore has it that she fell asleep outdoors one day while listening to beautiful music and that upon waking she realized the music was being made by the wind beating upon the sinews of a gutted whale. She was then inspired to craft the instrument and recreate that wonderous sound. Rules Over: Music magick, dream work, inspiration.

Caolainn Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess who was the guardian/queen of a magickal well in County Roscommon in western Ireland. She helped grant wishes, usually ones which taught the wishers that they didn't really want what they thought they did. Her myth is the origin of the well known 'wishing well' which is an image taken from the birth canal of the great mother earth from which all existence is created. She is associated with wishing wells and falling stars. Rules Over: Wisdom, healing, fertility.

Carman Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of County Wexford and source name for Loch Garman, who was once honored at Lughnasadh. It is believed she has roots in the Greek grain Goddess, Demeter. Modern legend portrays her as a Goddess of black magick, one who can destroy anything by thrice chanting a spell. This is also the way that the Morrigu, particularly Badb, can destroy. However, this is not a manifestation of evil intent, but an end of the world prophecy common to many cultures. Rules Over: Banishing magick.

Carne Location: Britain, Cornwall. Description: Most likely another version of Herne. See Cernunnos.

Carravogue Other Names: Garbhog, Gheareagain. Location: Ireland, Britain. Description: Local Crone Goddess from County Meath who was transformed into a huge snake for eating forbidden berries. Her original purpose is basically lost in modern times because her stories became so absorbed by Christian legends which attempt to make her a Celtic Eve. It is believed St. Patrick tampered with her legends, which show that St. Patrick killed her with holy water that melted her, but from which she will arise from again. One of the many legends St. Patrick tampered with was that she was originally a virgin Goddess of spring who banished each year the crone she would eventually become in order to further his own aims. She is associated with the number 9. Rules Over: Self-responsibility, reincarnation, earth magick.

Cathubodia Description: Occasionally seen as a a Breton version of the Irish earth Goddess Banbha, most likely with origins in Gaul. Thought to be a war Goddess who shares Badb's energies. Rules Over: War, earth magick.

Cebhfhionn Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of inspiration who was usually found next to the legendary Well of Knowledge from which she filled an endless vessel. She kept this sacred water from humans, feeling they could not handle its power. To merely taste of the waters meant to instantly possess great knowledge, wisdom and divine inspiration. Rules Over: healing, mental powers, knowledge.

Cernunnos Other Names: Cernowain, Cernenus, Herne The Hunter, Hu Gadarn, Belatucadros, Vitiris. Location: Known to all the Celtic areas in one form or another. Description: The Horned God, God of Nature, God of the Underworld. The Druids knew him as Hu Gadarn, the Horned God of Fertility. Usually depicted as sitting in a lotus position with horns/antlers on his head, a beard, naked except for a neck torque and sometimes holding a shield and spear. His symbols included the stag, ram, bull and horned serpent. Rules Over: Virility, fertility, animals, physical love, Nature, woodlands, reincarnation, crossroads, wealth, commerce, warriors, hunt, magick, sacrifice.

Cerridwen Other Names: Caridwen, Ceridwen. Location: Wales, Scotland. Description: Moon Goddess, Grain Goddess. Welsh Bards called themselves Cerddorion (sons of Cerridwen). The Bard, Taliesin, founder of their craft was said to be born of Cerridwen and to have tasted a potent from her magick cauldron of inspiration. In her magickal cauldron, she made a potion called greal (from which the word Grail most likely came from). The potion was made from six plants for inspiration and knowledge. Her symbol was a white sow. Rules Over: Death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, magick, astrology, herbs, science, poetry, spells, knowledge, wisdom, past lives, divination.

Cessair Location: Ireland. Description: Of the race known as the Partholans who were among the first to occupy Ireland, she is the first ruler of Ireland. Well known pre-Celtic Mother Goddess figure much like Dana. She led a journey of Partholans to the "western edge of the world" forty days before the great flood. Among her were her husband and one hundred and fifty mothers of the world. This legend shows how Pagans saw the Mother Goddess as a source of regeneration and life renewel. Cessair's "I was here first" image was so strong among Irish Pagans that when the Christians could not eliminate her, they made her the granddaughter of their flood savior, Noah. Because the native myths say Ireland was spared by the ravages of the great flood, Cessair perhaps was once seen as a water deity who had the power to save Ireland from the flood. She is associated with the rising sun and the cauldron. Rules Over: Strength, perseverance, leadership, foresight, water magick, new beginnings.

Cethlion Other Names: Cetnenn. Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of the Formorians who was called "crooked teeth." She prophesied the fall of her people to the Tuatha De Danann. Rules Over: Prophecy, divination.

Chlaus Haistic Location: Ireland. Description: Ancient Goddess of unknown function who came down to earth as a powerful witch. Probably a crone Goddess. Rules Over: Magick, druids.

Cian Location: Ireland. Description: God of medicine who went to retrieve a cow which had been stolen by Balor. Father of Lugh. Son of Diancecht. Husband of Ethne. Rules Over: Love magick.

Cliodna Other Names: Cleena, Cliodhna, Cliodna of the Fair Hair. Location: Ireland, Scotland. Description: Tuatha De Danann Sea and Otherworld Goddess who usually took the form of a sea bird and therefore symbolized the Celtic afterlife. As a Goddess of the waves, she was believed to be embodied in every ninth wave that broke on the shore. This wave was believed to break higher and stronger than any other. Rules Over: Spirit contact, appreciation, beauty, water magick.

Clota Other Names: Clud, Cludoita, Clwyd. Location: Scotland, England, Wales. Description: Well known Goddess and namesake of the River Clyde. The waters in which she governed were believed to be especially useful in controlling seizures. Rules Over: Water magick.

Coinchend Description: A semi-divine warrioress whose home was in the Otherworld. Rules Over: Spirit contact.

Condatis Description: God of confluence whose sacred places were wherever two rivers or bodies of water met. Rules Over: Water magick.

Condwiramur Location: Wales. Description: Goddess of sovereignty who appears shortly in the Grail legends as the wife of Sir Percival in which she is wedded and then bedded by Percival who then immediately sets off for the Grail castle to which he is finally admitted. Rules Over: Discovering your own feminine power, help in discovering the ancient grail mysteries, sovereignty.

Corchen Location: Ireland, Manx. Description: Ancient snake Goddess in which very little is known. She was probably once a regional mother earth Goddess, or Goddess of rebirth. Others conceive that her lost legends were once part of forgotten creation legends. Rules Over: Past lives, earth magick, reincarnation.

Corra Location: Scotland. Description: Prophecy Goddess who regularly appeared in the form of a crane. She symbolizes transcendent knowledge and transitions to the Otherworld. Rules Over: Divination, prophecy.

Coventina Location: Scotland. Description: One of the most potent of the Celtic river Goddesses. Most likely Roman in origin. She was also the Goddess of featherless flying creatures which may have symbolized some type of blockage to passing into the Otherworld. There is evidence she was worshipped in Celtic Gaul where reliefs have been found showing her reclining on a floating leaf. Rules Over: Time, new beginnings, life cycles, wishes, protection of birds, divination, inspiration of self.

Cred Other Names: Creide. Location: Ireland, Scotland. Description: Faery Queen Goddess who is associated with Dana's mountains, the Paps of Anu. She vowed never to sleep until she found a man who could create for her the most majestic poem ever penned. It not only had to be perfectly crafted, but describe in vivid detail her home and all its contents. The catch 22 was that no man was allowed within her dwelling's guarded walls (possibly a reference to one of the Otherworld realms known as The Land of Women). Coll, a warrior of the Fianna, succeeded and Cred married him. She is associated with Yew, rose oil, the color pink. Rules Over: Love magick, searching for the perfect mate, keeping secrets, spirit contact.

Credne Location: Ireland. Description: God of metallurgy and smithing who worked in bronze. He created all the Tuatha's weapons with the goldsmith Goibniu and the woodworker Luchtain. Rules Over: Self-defense, inspiration of artistic endeavors, blessing tools.

Creiddylad Other Names: Creudylad, Cordelia. Location: Wales. Description: Connected with Beltane and often called the May Queen. Goddess of summer flowers. Rules Over: Love, courage, strength of will and flowers.

Crobh Dearg Other Names: Crove Dairg. Location: Ireland. Description: "the red claw." War Goddess who is possibly a form of the crone Goddess of battle Badb. A Leinster fortress was named for her.

Cromm Cruaich Location: Ireland. Description: Ancient deity about which little is known about today. Seen as a harvest, death and sacrificial God. It is thought human sacrifices were once made to him at Samhain. The Dinnshenchas tells that once at Meg Slecht, a standing stone of pure gold was erected to him with twelve stone idols surrounding him (13 is still the traditional number for members in a Celtic coven). King Tigernmas led the worship at this stie. Rules Over: Harvest, dark festivals, death, passing over rituals, otherworld contact.

The Crone Description: Third aspect of the Triple Goddess. She signifies old age or death, winter, the end of all things, the waning moon, post-mentrual phases of women's lives, all destruction that comes before regeneration through her cauldron of rebirth. Crows and other black creatures are sacred animals to her. Dogs accompanied her usually and guarded the gates of her after-world, helping her to receive the dead. It was thought that true curses could be cast with a dog's help.

Cronos Description: Minor harvest and Sun God with Greek roots who was imprisoned with his subordinate deities on a western island which could have been a Land of the Dead. He seems to have no connection to the Greek God of time who has the same name.

Cyhiraeth Location: Wales. Description: Goddess of streams who later became thought of as a faery spirit who was a portent of death, very similar to Ireland's Beansidhe or Cornwall's Washer at the Ford. Rules Over: Water magick, passing over (death), faery contact, inner-transformation.

Cymidei Cymeinfoll Location: Wales. Description: War Goddess who is always paired in stories with her husband, Llasar Llaesyfnewid. They own a magickal cauldron into which they would cast warriors killed in battle. From the cauldron these deceased soldiers would come forth to life again, but minus their power of speech. She is one half of the creative principle. As Wales' prime War Goddess she gave birth to its warriors, one every six weeks. Rules Over: Strength, war, past-lives, creative magick.

Dahud-Ahes Other Names: Dahut. Location: Britain. Description: Goddess of "debauchery" by her detractors, while some recent legends go so far as to make her the destroyer of her own realm through her excesses and her worship of "idols." By her followers, she is hailed as a Goddess of earthly pleasure. Fishermen of Britain claim to occasionally see her city beneath the French seas, and believe that she will indeed return someday. Rules Over: Pleasure, courage, water magick, sex magick, sea faery contact.

The Dagda Other Names: Daghdha, Eochaidh Ollathair. Location: Ireland. Description: High King of the Tuatha De Danann. God of death and rebirth, master of all trades, lord of perfect knowledge. He had a cauldron called the Undry which gave unlimited food. He also had a living oak harp which caused the seasons to change in their order. He was usually pictured wearing a brown, low-necked tunic which just reached his hips and a hooded cape that barely covered his shoulders. On his feet he wore horse-hide boots. Behind him he pulls his massive 8-pronged warclub on a wheel. Rules Over: Protection, warriors, knowledge, magick, fire, prophecy, weather, reincarnation, the arts, initiation, patron of priests, the Sun, healing, regeneration, properity, plentymusc, harps, magicians, artisans, all knowledge.

Damara Location: England. Description: Fertility Goddess associated with Beltane. Rules Over: Fertility.

Damona Description: Cow Goddess which little is known about. Rules Over: Fertility, abundance.

Danu Other Names: Danann, Dana. Location: Ireland. Description: Major Mother Goddess, ancestress of the Tuatha De Danann. She gave her name to the Tuatha De Dannan (People of the Goddess Danu). Another aspect of the Morrigu. Rules Over: Wizards, rivers, water, wells, prosperity, abundance, magick, wisdom.

Daronwy Location: Wales. Description: In The Book of Taliesin, The "Song of Daronwy," relates adventures of this God who does not appear elsewhere in Celtic mythology. Many think Daronwy is actually Ossian.

Deae Matres Location: Britain. Description: "mother Goddesses." A triune of earth Goddesses given this singular Latin name on the continent. None of the legends about her survive though there are many inscriptions and scultpures which attest to the strength of her worship. It is believed her following was destroyed by the Romans when they took Gaul. The Trio are shown as robed figures bearing baskets of flowers, fruit, and grain, items which represent the bounty of three non-winter seasons. Rules Over: Harvest, fertility, prosperity.

Dechtere Other Names: Dechtire. Location: Ireland. Description: A triplicity unto herself, this Goddess throughout her myth say she alternately takes on the images of maiden, mother and crone. She is one of three women in myth who is credited with being the mother of Cuchulain, an honor usually only given to Taillte by Celtic Pagans. A stray mayfly, containing the "soul" of Lugh, fell into her wine glass. When she drank it she became impregnated with Cuchulain. However, she birthed Cuchulain by throwing him up and therefore always remaind a "maiden." Described as a woman of "large proportions," a detail which reveals she had attributes of a mother, fertility and abundance Goddess. She could shape-shift herself and her followers into birds for swift travel and, predictably, they could fly to the Otherworld and back in this form. However, wherever they stopped to feed they nearly destroyed the land, and this links her to the daker side of the Goddess of abundance, that of teh devourer.

Devona Description: Goddess of the rivers of Devon.

Diancecht Other Names: Dian Cecht. Location: Ireland. Description: Physician-magician of the Tuatha. Rules Over: Healing, medicine, regeneration, magick, silver-working.

Dil Location: Ireland. Description: Very old cattle Goddess about whom nothing is known about today. She could possibly be a derivative of the nearly forgotten Damona of Gaul. Rules Over: Fertility.

Dispater Other Names: Dis Pater. Description: Gaulish God, whose name means "the father," was a primordial God of creation who later merged with both Don and Cernunnos. The Gauls all believed they themselves to be descended from him. Rules Over: Fertility magick, magick.

Domnu Location: Ireland. DescriptioN: Goddess of the Formorians, who are sometimes referred to as the Fir Domnann (Men of Domnu) in her honor. The Formorian race was one of the occupiers in the five-fold Invasion cycle of Irish mythos. Her name means "the deep," making sense because the Formorians were banished by the Tuatha De Danann to become grotesque sea monsters off the Irish coast. Rules Over: Leadership, sea faery contact.

Don Other Names: Donn, Dhonn. Location: Ireland, Wales. Description: Sometimes called a Goddess and sometimes called a God. Ruled over the land of the dead. Rules Over: Control of the elements, eloquence.

Druantia Description: "Queen of the Druids." Fir Goddess. Rules Over: Fertility, passion, sexual activities, trees, protection, knowledge, creativity.

Dubh Lacha Location: Ireland. Description: Early Irish Goddess of the sea which little is known about. Possibly another version of the Druidess Dubh.

Dunatis Description: Gaulish Celtic God of fortifications. Protector of sacred spaces. Rules Over: Protection of sacred places and hiding places during rituals.

Dylan Other Names: Dyonas. Location: Wales, Britain. Description: Guardian deity of the mouth of the River Conway. Symbol was a silver fish, son of Gwydion and Arianrhod.

Eadon Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of poetry who may have also been a bard. Rules Over: Creativity.

Easal Location: Ireland, Manx. Description: God of abundance and prosperity who came into legend as King of the Golden Pillars. He gave the sons of Tuirrean seven magickal pigs, which would reappear the day after they were eaten. Rules Over: Prosperity, abundance.

Ebhlinne Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of Munster who was until recent times honored at the Midsummer Sabbat in her mountain home in County Tipperary. Since all her legends have been lost except for a few minor references, she was probably once a sun or fire Goddess. Rules Over: Fire magick.

Echtghe Other Names: Aughty. Location: Ireland. Description: Believed to be another form of Dana by some, the first Great Mother Goddess of Ireland. Her lover gave her the hills which bear her name to this day: The Slaibh na Echtghe. She was the daughter of Nuada of the Silver Hand.

Eibhir Location: Ireland, Manx. Description: First wife of Ossian who is described as being a yellow-haired "stranger from another land." She is most likely a forgotten Sun Goddess.

Eithne Other Names: Ethleen, Ethlinn, Ethniu. Location: Ireland. Description: Old Goddess whose original form likely traveled with the Celts across the continent over many generations from the Middle East. It is said she lived off nothing but the milk of a sacred Indian cow and was protected by a spirit who chased away all would-be suitors. Some tend to think she is the same as the Goddess Ethne, who is one of the several women credited with being the mother of Lugh. Her last pregnancy was ended along with her life when she was drowned by her jealous sister, Clothru. A minor fertility and moon Goddess. Rules Over: Beauty, fertility, reincarnation.

Elaine Location: Wales, Britain. Description: Maiden aspect of the Goddess.

Queen of Elphame Other Names: Elphlane, Elphane. Location: Scotland. Description: Goddess of death and disease who is often equated with the Greek Goddess Hecate. More recently, in the past few hundred years, she has been seen as a Faery Queen and assocaited with Beltane. Thomas and Rhymer always maintained that she appeared to him on a May Eve dressed in green silks and riding a white horse with fifty-nine silver bells tied in its mane (odd association since Celtic faeries have always been thought to shun the ringing of bells). Rules Over: Death, destruction, plague, battle, Otherworld, rebirth, faery contact.

Eostre Description: Goddess for whom the Ostara Sabbat is named for a.k.a. Easter. She is viewed as spring personified. The word for animal menstruation, "estrus," meaning "fertile period," is derived from her name, and therefore she is a Goddess of animal reproduction. Rules Over: Ostara, Great Rite, Fertility of pets/livestock, new ventures, reincarnation, new life.

Epona Location: Britain, Gaul. Description: "Divine Horse." Goddess of horses, Mother Goddess, Mare. Rules Over: Fertility, maternity, protectress of horses, horse-breeding, prosperity, dogs, healing springs, crops.

Epos Olloatir Description: Horse God often seen as either a male form of Epona or as her consort. Rules Over: Night, dream magick, horses.

Erce Description: Earth Mother and Harvest Goddess represented by a womb or over-flowing Horn of PLenty who is believed to be Basque in origin. Rules Over: Harvest festivals, earth magick.

Eri of the Golden Hair Location: Ireland. Description: Virgin Goddess of the Tuatha De Danann. In one legend, Eri was at the bank of a river when a man in a silver boat floated down to her on a beaming ray of the sun. She was so overcome with emotion at the sight that the two of them fell into the boat and made love right there and then. The man, most likely an unnamed sun God, left Eri impregnated with Bres. He also left her a golden ring (a sun symbol) to remember him by. Rules over: Creation, moon.

Eriu Other Names: Erin, Eire. Location: Ireland. Description: One of the three queens of the Tuatha De Danann and daughter of the Dagda.

Essus Other Names: Esus. Location: Britain. Description: Harvest God worshipped in Brittany and in Gaul by the people known as the Essuvi. He died by being hung on one of his sacred trees like the Norse God Odin with whome he is often compared to. His own legends are lost. Rules Over: Fertility, harvest, spirit contact, passing over rites.

Fachea Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of poetry and patron of bards. Rules Over: Creativity.

Fea Location: Ireland. Description: War Goddess whose root name means "the hateful one." She is a subordinate deity of the Morrigu. Daughter of Brugh and Elcmar. Rules Over: War.

Finncaev Location: Ireland. Description: Minor Princess among the Tuatha De Danann. Thought to be a Goddess of love and beauty. Rules Over: Love and beauty.

Finvarra Other Names: Fionnbharr. Location: Ireland. Description: A strong God who became known as a faery king of the Tuatha De Danann. Rules Over: Competitions, mental powers, faery contact.

Fionn MacCumhal Other Names: Finn MacCool, Finn McCual, Fin on the Isle of Man, Fingal, Demna (original name). Location: Ireland, Manx, Scotland. Description: Legendary giant God/Warrior of ireland who foresaw the coming of the Milesians and banished an invading giant from Scotland. Rules Over: Wisdom, overcoming enemies, creation, protection, knowledge, divination.

Fland Location: Ireland. Description: Daughter of woodland Goddess Flidais. A lake Goddess who is viewed in modern folklore as an evil water faery who lures swimmers to their death. Rules Over: Water magick, lakes.

Flidais Location: Ireland. Description: She rode in a chariot drawn by deer. Ruler of wild beasts, forests, woodlands. Rules Over: Forests, woodlands, wild things, wild beasts, shape-shifting.

Garbh Ogh Location: Ireland. Description: Giantess and Goddess of the hunt whose chariot was drawn by elks. This Goddess built herself a triple cairn of stone and heather, and went inside to die. Her names means "rough youth." Rules Over: Ecological magick, seasonal rites involving the sacrificial God.

Garmangabis Location: Britain. Description: Goddess who was brought to Britain with the Romans and survives only through cryptic inscriptions. She was worshipped in the Lancashire region of northwestern England, though her function is now unknown.

Gavida Location: Ireland. Description: Minor God of the forge.

Goewin Other Names: Goewyn. Location: Wales. Description: Goddess of sovereignty who held the feet of Math while he reigned. She was only exempt from doing this when he went to war. In old northern and western European cultures kings were often seen as semi-divine beings having need to rest their feet in the lap of a queen by whose grace they ruled. When Goewin was kidnapped by Gilfaethwy, he also captured the means of stealing the throne. A May Queen. Rules Over: Sovereignty.

Gog Description: Consort of Magog. Rules Over: Fertility.

Goidniu Other Names: Gofannon, Govannon. Location: Ireland, Wales. Description: One of a triad of crafsmen with Luchtaine the wright and Creidne the brazier. He forged all of the Tuatha De Danann's weapons which always hit their mark and every wound created by the weapons were fatal. His ale gave the Tuatha invulnerability. Rules Over: Blacksmiths, weapon-makers, jewelry making, brewing, fire, metal-working.

Goleuddydd Location: Wales. Description: Sow Goddess, mother of Culwch who ran in an insane rush to the deep woodlands to give him birth. Aunt of King Arthur. Rules Over: Family ties, independence.

Grainne Location: Ireland, Manx, Scotland. Description: Master herbalist and sun Goddess who was the daughter of King Cormac and who married Fionn MacCumhal. Rules Over: Herbs, knowledge, sun, fire magick.

Great Father Description: The Horned God, The Lord. Lord of the winter, harvest, land of the dead, the sky, animals, mountains, lust, powers of destruction, regeneration. Represents the male principle of creation.

Great Mother Description: The Lady. Represents the female principle of creation. Goddess of fertility, the Moon, summer, flowers, love, healing, the seas, water.

The Green Man Other Names: Arddhu (The Dark One), Atho, Horned God. Description: See Cernunnos.

Grian Location: Ireland. Description: Faery Goddess from County Tipperary is still thought to live in a burgh beneath Pallas Green Hill. Her name means "sunny" and was most assuredly at one time a long past potent regional sun deity. Though her legends have been lost, some think she is a twin of Aine who represented the waning year, while Grian was queen of the waxing year. Rules Over: Seasonal rites, sun.

Guaire Other Names: Guary. Location: Ireland. Description: Guardian God/spirit of Bruigh na Boinne and father of Ebhlinne. Rules Over: Protection.

Gwawl Ap Clud Other Names: Gwawn. Location: Wales. Description: Son of the Goddess Clug. Thought to be a minor sun God. Rules Over: Solar magick.

Gwen Location: Wales. Description: A young female who was so beautiful that almost no one could live if they gazed upon her for long. She was perhaps a minor sun or moon Goddess or a Goddess of light.

Gwydion Other Names: Gwyddion. Location: Wales. Description: Druid of the mainland gods, son of Don. Brother of Govannon, Arianrhod and Amaethon. Wizard and Bard of North Wales. A many-skilled god. Prince of the Powers of Air, a shape-shifter. His symbol was a white horse. Greatest of the enchanters. A warrior-magician. Brought pigs to humankind. Rules Over: Illusion, changes, magick, the sky, healing, music magick, help, learning, mental powers.

Gwyddno Location: Wales. Description: At one time was a sea God. Came down in legend as a monster or faery of the ocean. Rules Over: Water magick.

Gwynn Ap Nudd Location: Wales. Description: King of the Fairies and the underworld. Later became Plant Annwn (subterranean fairies). Rules Over: Spirit contact, strength, passing over rituals, seasonal rites.

Gwethyr Other Names: Gwyrthur Ap Gwreidawl. Location: Wales. Description: Opposite of Gwynn Ap Nudd. King of the Upperworld.

Habetrot Description: A "spinning" Goddess who is thought to either be a goddess of spell casting or the wheel of the year since "spinning" refers to them both. She is best known for her powers of healing which were linked to her skills with weaving fiber. All who wore her clothes never became ill. Rules Over: Healing, seasonal rites, commemoration.

Habondia Other Names: Abondia, Abunciada, Habonde. Description: Goddess of abundance and prosperity who was later demoted to a mere witch in medieval English lore in order to strip her of her great power in the minds of the rural folk who depended upon her benevolence for their crops and herds. She is descended from a Germanic Goddess of the Earth. Rules Over: Seasonal harvest rites, fertility, prosperity, earth magick.

Harimella Other Names: Viradechthis. Location: Scotland. Description: Goddess of Tungrain origin who used to be worshipped in Dunfriesshire. Most likely a Goddess of protection. Rules Over: Protection.

Henwen Description: Sow Goddess much like her Welsh counterpart, Cerridwen. She is the deity who brought abundance to the land by giving birth to an array of "litters" throughout England. For example she left a litter of bees in one spot, wheat in another, barley in another, etc. She produced everything except dogs, pigs or other animals thought to be the sole possession of the Otherworld inhabitants. Rules Over: Fertility, childbirth, prosperity.

Hevydd Hen Location: Wales. Description: Father of Rhiannon. Once part of a very old oral tradition which has been lost.

Holly King and Oak King Description: Two sacrifical Gods who, in the manner of such deities, are two aspects of the same being. Holly King represents the waning year, and battles the Oak King at Midsummer (probably at Beltane sometime in the past) for rulership. The Oak King is the God of the waxing year and fights the Holly King at Yule (perhaps at one time Samhain) for the same honor. Today most celtic witches see these two as faeries or spiritual energies rather than as divine beings since only pieces of folklore and custom, rather than mythology, define them.

The Horned God Description: Opener of the Gates of Life and Death. Known by many names, herne the hunter, cernunnos, green man, lord of the wild hunt. The masculine, active side of Nature. Earth Father. Animals sacred to him were the stag, bull, goat, bear. Rules Over: Growing things, the forest, Nature, wild animals, alertness, annihilation, fertility, panic, desire, terror, flocks, agriculture, beer and ale.

Ialonus Description: Fertility God who governed over all cultivated fields. Rules Over: Fertility, gardens.

Ibath Location: Ireland Description: A Nemed who is belieoved to be a Tuatha ancestor/father God.

Inghean Bhuidhe Other Names: Crobh Dearg. Location: Ireland. Description: Her name means "yellow-haired girl." Much of her story has been lost, however, we do know that she was the middle girl of three sisters who made up a Triple Goddess. She represented the coming of summer, or Beltane, and for many years was honored with rituals involving a sacred well on May 6, the original date of the Sabbat. Her younger sister was named Latiaran. Her elder sister is named Lassair. Rules Over: Beltane, flower festivals, spring planting.

Iubdan of the Faylinn Location: Ireland. Description: An Ulster God usually known in popular legend as the king of the Ulster faeries. Rules Over: Faery contact, wisdom.

Keevan of the Curling Hair Other Names: Cebhain. Description: Lover of Cliodna who may have been a God of fertility and of the hunt. All myths aside the ones of Cliodna have been lost. Rules Over: Fertility, hunting.

Kele-De Other Names: Ceile De. Location: Ireland. Description: Very old Goddess whose early all-female following was allowed to flourish by the early church. They were known as Kelles. Their High Priestess reserved the right to take any and all lovers they chose. Strangly enough, she was probably a crone image in Ireland and linked in popular mind as a counterpart to the male creation concept. Some even believe she is a corruption of the Indian Goddess, Kali. In an effort to destroy her memory, an early sect of Irish and Scottish monks adopted her name. Rules over: Feminine power and sex magick.

The Lady Of the Lake Location: Wales, Britain Description: To some she is a faery woman, to others she is a potent deity of life, death and regeneration. She was the possessor of the sword Excalibur (called Caliburn in Brittany), the magickal blade given to King Arthur. A Sovereign Goddess, it is this act of taking the offered sword which grants Arthur the right to rule, and it is she who claims the blade again, when his role as sacrificial king must be fulfilled. The Bretons claim she was a Breton addition to the Arthurian legends and that she never appeared in the original Welsh versions of the myths. Contradictory to the "sword in the churchyard stone" stories, the Breton version tells us that Merlin and Arthur rowed out to the center of the Dosmary Lake in Cornwall and that it was there that Excalibur was presented to him, the sword embedded in a floating stone. When he pulled it out, it was an act of reversal of the Great Rite, separating the female and male concepts of creation which were not to be united again until Arthur's death. The Lady of the Lake is also said to have been the foster mother of Sir Lancelot, one of Arthurs knights, also a Breton addition to the tale. She is pictured as sitting on a throne of reeds in the center of the lake's depths. Among her MANY magickal credits is that of a healer. She is associated with the crane, water lilies and marble. Rules Over: Purification, healing, Great Rite, any other magickal acts associated with the feminine elements.

Lassair Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of Midsummer, part of a triune with her sisters Latiaran and Inghean Bhuidhe. Her name means "flame." Rules Over: Seasonal rites.

Latiaran Location: Ireland. Description: The youungest of the three sisters who made up a Triune Goddess. Latiaran represented the first harvest of Lughnasadh. The only surviving story about Latiaran tells us that her apron caught fire and she melted into the ground, her place marked by a heart-shaped stone. Rules Over: Seasonal rites, fire magick.

Latis Location: England. Description: Lake Goddess who later became a Goddess of ale and meade. Evidence of her worship still remains at Birdsowald, England. Latis fell in love with a salmon, which represents knowledge, and out of pity for her, the other deities turned him into a warrior. However, each winter he must submit to becoming a salmon again until spring. Rules Over: Understanding the wheel of the year, samhain rites, mourning.

LeFay Location: Wales. Description: Goddess of the sea and of the Isle of Avalon. She was an excellent healer and drinking water bles her provided an instant cure for all illnesses. Rules Over: Healing.

Leucetios Description: Thunder and storm God. Rules Over: Weather Magick

Litavis Location: Britain. Description: God of the forge. Rules Over: See Goibniu.

Llasar Llaesgyfnewid Location: Wales. Description: Battle God who is always paired with Cymidei Cymeinfoll, his wife. Rules Over: Strength, past-lives, creativity.

Llyr Other Names: Lear, Lir. Location: Ireland, Wales. Description: God of the sea and water. Rules Over: Water, sea.

Logia Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of the Lagan River. Rules Over: Water magick.

Lot Location: Ireland. Description: Hideous Formorian War Goddess. She is said to have lips on her breasts and four eyes on her back. She often led the Formorians into battle.

Luaths Lurgann Description: Warrior Goddess whose name means "the speedy-footed one," and she was known to be the fastest runner of all Ireland. She is associated with the Thistle. Rules Over: Overcoming enemies, family, loyalty, teaching, physical fitness, astral projection.

Luchtain Other Names: Luchtar. Location: Ireland. Description: Minor war and death god. Rules Over: Creativity, spirit contact, energy, magickal tools.

Lud Other Names: Llud, Llud Llaw Ereint, Llud of the Silver Hand, Nuada, Nudd, Nodons, Nodens, Lludd. Location: Ireland, Wales. Description: Chieftain God. He had an invincible sword, one of the four great treasures of the Tuatha De Danann. Rules Over: Healing, water, ocean, fishing, the Sun, sailing, childbirth, dogs, youth, beauty, spears, slings, smiths, carpenters, harpers, poets, historians, sorcerers, writing, magick, warfare, incantations.

Lugh Other Names: Lugh Lamhfada, Llew, Lug, Lugus, Lug Samildananch, Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Lleu, Lugos, Llew, Llew Llaw Gyffes, Lugus, Ioldanach, Samhioldananach, Lamhfada. Location: Ireland, Wales. Description: A hero God. His feast is Lughnassadh, a harvest festival. He is associated with ravens. His symbol is a white stag in Wales. Lugh had a magick spear and rod-sling. One of his magick hounds was obtained from the sons of Tuirenn as part of the blood-fine for killing his father Cian. He was a carpenter, mason, smith, harper, poet, Druid, physician and goldsmith. Rules Over: War, magick, commerce, reincarnation, lightning, water, arts and crafts, manual arts, journeys, martial arts, blacksmiths, poets, harpers, musicians, historians, sorcerers, healing, revenge, initiation, prophecy.

Mabb Location: Wales. Description: Warrioress believed to be a Welsh version of Ireland's Queen Maeve. Today in Welsh folklore she is a faery who brings nightmares and is a midwife to the Welsh faery folk, the Twlwwyth Tegs.

Mabon Other Names: Maponos, Maponus. Description: Minor sun got who also ironically represness. Some traditions view hiim as the original being, the first God, first life carved out of the primal void of the divine womb. Rules Over: Any endeavor, seasonal rites, fertility rites, the hunt, death, spirit contact.

MacCecht Location: Ireland. Description: Son of Oghma. God of the plough for the Tuatha. Rules Over: Fertility, crops, protection magick.

MacCuill Location: Ireland. Description: Minor sea God of the Tuatha De Danann. Rules Over: Water magick.

MacGreine Location: Ireland. Desscription: Son of Oghma, minor sun God of the Tuatha De Danann and husband of Eire. Rules Over: Sun, prosperity.

Macha Other Names: Mania, Mana, Mene, Minne. Location: Ireland. Description: One of the aspects of the triple Morrigu. Associated with ravens and crows. She is honored at Lughnassadh. Protectress in war as in peace. Goddess of war and death. Rules Over: Cunning, sheer physical force, sexuality, fertility, dominance over males, childbirth, wisdom, overcoming enemies, past-lives.

MacKay Location: Scotland. Description: MacKay's legend is possibly a reworking of an old story about a fire God. Rules Over: Faery contact, sun.

Queen Maeve Other Names: Medb, Medhbh, Madb. Location: Ireland. Description: Queen of Connacht who personifies the heights of feminine power. No doubt, she was once a powerful Goddess who merged with a later historical figure. Her name means "intoxicated woman," and she was known for her long golden hair, fiery temper and strong will. She boasted that she could sexually exhaust thirty men each night. As evidence of her feminine power, battles would pause while she menstruated. Ancient peoples believed this time to be the peak of a woman's power. She was not only a powerful leader, but also an expert warrioress, huntress and horsewoman. Usually animals, especially horses, are often depicted with her. Rules Over: Sex magick, leadership, perseverance, strength, warding off enemies, feminine power.

Magh Mor Location: Ireland. Description: A FirBolg princess/Goddess. Grandmother of Lugh.

Magog Description: Mountain Deity of which her consort was Gog. She was the more important. Britain's Megg's Hills are named for her, and several hillside chalk effigies portray her. She is usually depicted as a four-breasted woman astride a horse. It is thought her name may mean "mother deity," and that she was once a fertility and motehr Goddess. In patriarchal times she became England's St. Margaret. Rules over: Fertility, couples, earth spells.

Mal Location: Ireland. Description: Hag's Headland is the most famous of Ireland's jagged cliffs along the western coast. Mal was the Goddess who ruled over them, deciding the fate of all who ventured there.

Manannan MacLir Other Names: Manawydan Ap Llyr, Manawydden, Manann, Oirbsen. Location: Ireland, Wales. Description: He dressed in a green cloak and gold headband. He was a shape-shifter. Chief Irish sea God. His swine magickally renewed themselves, were the chief food of the Tuatha De Danann and kept them from aging. He had famous weapons that included two spears called Yellow Shaft and Red Javelin; swords called the Retaliator, Great Fury and Little Furty. He had magick armor that prevented wounds and could make the Tuatha invisible at will. Rules Over: Sea, navigators, storms, weather at sea, fertility, sailing, weather-forecasting, magick, arts, merchants and commerce, rebirth.

Marcia Proba Location: England. Description: Celtic Warrior queen Goddess who lived around the third century B.C.E. Her laws, known as the Marcian Statutes were similar to Ireland's Brehon Laws in that they were very fair and gave equal status to women. Rules Over: Judgment, justice, fairness, equality.

Margawse Location: Wales, Britain. Description: Mother aspect of the Goddess.

Math Mathonwy Other Names: Mathu, Math Ap Mathonwy. Location: Wales. Rules Over: Sorcery, magick, enchantment.

Mathonwy Location: Wales. Description: Father God who became the single being from whom the family of the great Welsh mother Goddess Don was descended. Rules Over: Prosperity.

Matrona Other Names: Modron. Description: Goddess of the Marne River. "Divine mother." Early name of Modron. Rules Over: Water magick.

Melusine Other Names: Melsuline. Location: Britain, Scotland. Description: Serpent Goddess brought to common awareness though the writing of French author Rabelais. She and her sisters, Melior and Palatina, are a triplicity. Rules Over: Compassion, knowledge of when vengeance is not right or just or just none of your business.

Melwas Other Names: Meleagant. Location: Cornwall. Description: A Dark God who lay in wait for an entire year to carry of Guinevere to his palace in Avalon. God of the Summerland (Otherworld). Rules Over: Spirit contact, passing over rituals.

Merlin Other Names: Merddin, Myrddin, Merlyn, Emrys. Location: Wales, Britain. Description: Great sorcerer, druid, magician. Associated with the fairy religion of the Goddess. A wild man of the woods with prophetic skills, according to the Old Welsh traditions. It is said he learned all his magick from the Goddess under her many names of Morgan, Viviane, Nimue, Fairy Queen and Lady of the Lake. He is thought to sleep in a hidden crystal cave. Rules Over: Illusion, shape-shifting, herbs, healing, woodlands, Nature, protection, counseling, prophecy, divination, psychic abilities, foreseeing, crystal reading, tarot, magick, rituals, spells, incantations, artisans and smiths.

King Midhir Other Names: Mider, Midir, Midhir of Bri Leith. Location: Otherworld/faery God/king, Son of the Dagda and Boann. Owned 3 birds, the Cranes of Denial, Despair and Churlishness, who refused hospitality to travelers, a definite breach of the Celtic rules of social intercourse. He had a magick cauldron which his daughter Blathnat helped Cuchulain steal from him. Today is viewed as both an Otherworld God and a faery God compared to Pluto. Rules Over: Faery contact, prosperity spells.

Moccus Location: Britain. Description: Pig God of the continental standing stones who had his cloudy origins in Celtic Gaul. Perhaps a masculine version of or consort to the popular goddess known as Cerridwen. He had his own feast day in Celtic Gaul. Rules Over: Sacred Spaces.

Modron Location: Wales. Description: "Great Mother," she is one of the most powerful of the Celtic mother goddesses. She is also a fertility and harvest deity. She was the Mother of Mabon who was stolen away from her when he was three days old and rescued later by King Arthur. Rules Over: Mother Goddess Magick & Ritual, Harvest rites, childbirth beds, sex magick.

Momu Location: Scotland. Description: A Goddess of wells and hillsides.

Morgan LeFay Other Names: Morgause. Location: Wales, Britain. Description: Daughter of LeFay, half sister of King Arthur, possibly was once a Goddess of Glastonbury Tor, a sacred Pagan site. Today she is generally thought of as a Death Goddess, equated with The Morrigu. As a Goddess of sovereignty, she backed the Green Knight to take over the kingdom of Camelot. Rules Over: Music magick, sovereignty, passing over rituals, spirit contact, water spells, gossip, bigotry.

Morgay Location: Scotland, England. Description: Harvest Goddess from the Scottish/English border region. Rules Over: Seasonal Rites.

The Morrigu Other Names: Morrigan, Morrighan, Morgan. Location: Ireland, Wales, Britain. Description: Reinged over the war-field, helping with her magick, but did not join in battles. Associated with crows and ravens. The Crone aspect of the Goddess. In her dark aspect, she is the goddess of war, fate and death. The carrion crow is her favorite disguise. With her, Fea (hateful), Nemon (Battle) encouraged fighters to battle-madness. Rules Over: Rivers, lakes, fresh water, priestesses, witches, revenge, night, magick, prophecy, banishing magick, passing over rites, overcoming enemies, battles, warriors, service wo/men, violence.

Muireartach Location: Ireland, Scotland. Description: Battle Goddess whose name means "eastern sea," and she personified the storm-tossed seas between Ireland and Scotland. In modern times an entire race of unpleasant Scottish sea faeries bears her name. She is depicted as a one-eyed crone with a black and blue face and a scaled body. The Fianna said she would occasionally fly in from over the sea and fight on their side in battle. Rules Over: See The Morrigu.

Mullo Location: Britain. Description: Patron Deity of teamsters. He is associated with jackassess and with the Roman God Mars. Rules Over: Protection in travel, animals.

Murigen Location: Ireland, Scotland, Manx. Description: Lake Goddess associated with the deluge legends. Rules Over: Water magick.

Naas Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess. Wife of Lugh, she died in County Kildare at a site which still bears her name.

Nair Location: Ireland. Description: This Goddess is best-known for escorting High King Crebhan to the Otherworld where she gave him great treasures. Her name means "modesty." Rules Over: Spirit contact, Samhain rites, prosperity.

Nehalennia Location: Britain. Description: Dog Goddess who was the patron deity of sea traders, perhaps an image derived from Sirius (The Dog Star, which was once an important navigational star. Rules Over: Protection on the water.

Neit Other Names: Net. Location: Ireland. Description: Tuatha De Danann War God who is seen as both the husband of Nemain and of the entire Morrigu triune. Rules Over: Fertility rites.

Nemain Other Names: Neman, Nemhain, Nemontona, Nemona. Location: Ireland. Description: "Venomous one." She is one of the triune crone Goddesses of battle and strife which make up The Morrigu. Rules Over: See The Morrigu.

Nemetona Location: England. Description: Guardian Goddess of all sacred places such as circles or magickal groves. A shrine to her was created at Bath, England, where she was shown as seated and surrounded by three hooded figures and a ram. The three figures symbolize the Triple Goddess and the ram is a male fertility representation linked to Cernunnos. Rules Over: Protection of circles/groves/sacred grounds.

Nemglan Location: ireland. Description: Bird God who fathered Conaire Mor. Rules Over: Divination, fertility, spirit contact.

Niamh Location: Ireland. Description: An aspect of Badb who helps heroes at death. Rules Over: Naming rites, spirit contact, love magick, passing over rituals.

Nicevenn Location: Scotland. Description: Crone Goddess associated with Samhain. In modern times she is called a "witch" or "evil faery." Rules Over: Samhain rituals.

Noctiluca Location: Gaul. Description: Goddess of Magick from Celtic Gaul about whom nothing else is known. It is a possibility she was originally Roman. Rules Over: Magick.

Nwyrve Location: Wales. Description: Husband of Arianrhod about whom nothing is known aside his name. Most likely a father sky god at one time.

Oanuava Location: Britain. Description: Very old Earth Goddess from Celtic Gaul. A Mother Goddess who was regionally worshipped as the source from which all life flowed.

Ogma Other Names: Oghma, Ogmios, Grianainech, Cermait. Location: Ireland. Description: A champion of the Tuatha who carried a huge club. He invented the Ogam script alphabet. Rules Over: Eloquence, poets, writers, physical strength, inspiration, language, literature, magick, spells, the arts, music, reincarnation.

Pwyll Other Names: Pwyll Pen Annwn. Location: Wales. Description: Sometimes the ruler of the underworld. Rules Over: Cunning, loyalty, fraternal love, spirit contact.

Ratis Description: Goddess of protective fortifications whose name means "of the fortress." Ratis' most notable worship sites were near the towns of Birdoswald and Chesters. Rules Over: Defenses, protection.

Rhiannon Location: Ireland. Description: "The Great Queen." Goddess of birds and horses. She rides a swift white horse. Rules Over: Horses, enchantments, fertility and the Underworld, overcoming enemies, patience, magick, moon rituals, dream work.

Rosmerta Location: Celtic Gaul and Roman Gaul. Description: Goddess of both Celtic and Roman Gaul. After Rome conquered the region, Rosmerta was taken into the local Roman pantheon where she became a consort of their God Mercury. She is depicted carrying a caduceus wand, which indicates she was adept in the healing arts. In Celtic Gaul her images are confused, and she is considered to be a Goddess of either water or the sun, which is indicative that she may have been associated with hot springs. Rules Over: Healing, communication.

Saitada Description: She is known only from one inscription in the Tyne Valley. It is thought she was a Goddess of mourning. Rules over: Passing Over rites, mourning.

Scathach Other Names: Scota, Scatha, Scath, Scathach nUanaind, Scathach Buanand, Skatha. Location: Ireland, Scotland. Description: Underworld Goddess, Goddess in her Destroyer aspect. A warrior woman and prophetess who lived in Albion, most likely on the Isle of Skye and taught the martial arts. Rules Over: Blacksmiths, healing, magick, prophecy, martial arts, protection, teaching.

Segomo Description: War God called by the name Cocidius. His image is always seen with birds of prey such as the hawk or falcon.

Sequana Other Names: Sequena. Location: Britain. Description: Earth Goddess who lived beneath the rivers of Britain and could only be seen if the rivers were drained or low from drought. Goddess of the many other River Goddesses. Rules Over: Prosperity, earth magick, water magick, purification.

Sheila-Na-Gig Location: Ireland. Description: Not much is known about this deity aside the fact that she was most likely a protective or blessing deity. She has been found on the doors of early Irish convents. The nuns adorned the doors with her figure. When the churchmen found this, they were horrified and broke them off. She is depicted as a woman holding wide her vulva in a triangular pattern. Today she is viewed by the Celtic Pagans as a Goddess of regeneration. Rules Over: Feminine power, past/future-lives.

Shoney Location: Scotland, Ireland, Manx. Description: Today, the Shoney are now though tto be sea faeries living off the coast of Scotland and northern Ireland, but were originally a single God of the North Sea. Rules Over: Faery contact, sea.

Sin Location: Ireland. Description: At one time she was a Patron Goddess of warriors who has been reduced to being a minor faery who feeds on battle. The very oldest legends about her portray her as a potent Goddess who could make wine from water and swine from leaves in order to feed and fortify her fighting legions. Rules Over: Stamina, strength, legal matters, overcoming enemies, protection, prosperity, hunger, homelessness.

Sionnan Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of the River Shannon. Queen of the well spirits of Ireland. Rules Over: Faery contact, well rituals.

Sirona Other Names: Dirona. Location: Britain. Description: "Star." Goddess of many of the beneficial hot springs in southern France from which her few legends came. Also a Sky Goddess and most likely deity of the Sun. Mother of Borvo, who took her position in patriarchal times. Rules Over: Healing, purification.

Slaine Location: Ireland. Description: Thought to be a deity of healing and the medical arts. Son of Partholan. Rules Over: Healing.

Somhlth Location: Ireland, Scotland, Manx. Description: God who had no corporeal incarnation. Symbolizes pure masculinity, divine energy. Rules Over: Masculine powers.

Sucellos Description: A river and death God about whom nothing but his name is known about. However, some claim he was the consort of Nantosuelta, whose name means "of the meandering stream." Others see him as a representation of death. Rules Over: Water, death.

Sul Other Names: Sulla, Sulis, Sulevia. Description: Goddess of hot springs whose sacred waters always were hot. Prince Bladud built a shrine to her near Aquae Sulis where the popular modern-day spa is located. The waters were once thought to hold powerful healing magick, and a perpetual fire was burned near them in her honor. She is depicted in bas-reliefs with a foot of an owl, and wearing a hat made of the head of a bear. Later, the Romans adopted her and called her Sul Minerva, a deity later associated with Imbolg and Ireland's Brigit. Rules over: Imbolg rites and healing rituals.

Taillte Other Names: Taultiu, Tailtu, Telta. Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of Lughnasadh associated with the harvest of the first grains, especially wheat. It is cryptically said she is the foster mother of light. Perhaps in reference to Lugh). But it also may be in reference to an old creation myth in which the Goddess gives birth to the Sun. This Goddess lived at Tara and was revered there as an earth deity and patron Goddess of competition. Annual games festivels were held at Plain of Oenach Taillten (which was cleared at her behest for a playing field), now called Teltown, until 1169. Many consider these to be the Irish Olympics (Though many others think it was associated with Passing Over rites). These games were revived in the late inneteenth century when a renewed interest in Irish culture flourished. Trial marriages, for a duration of a year and a day, were held on her sacred site to promote fertility. Rules Over: Seasonal and harvest rites, fertility magick, enhancing strength for competitive games.

Taliesin Location: Wales. Description: A poet, Prince of Song. Chief of the Bards of the West. Patron of Druids, bards and minstrels. A shape-shifter. Rules Over: Writing, poetry, wisdom, wizards, bards, music, knowledge, magick.

Taliesin Location: Wales. Description: Minor barley God worshipped through the 16th century. Do not confuse him with the bard, Taliesin, though some of the famous bard's attributes were grafted onto him. Rules Over: Fertility, Barley.

Tamara Description: Goddess of the River Tamar which divides the Duchy of Cornwall from the rest of England. Most likely as much a protective force as she was a water deity. Rules Over: Creation or fortification of boundaries.

Tamesis Description: Goddess of the River Thames, later replaced in patriarchal times by Llud, for whom Ludgate Hill in London is named. Rules Over: Water magick.

Tannus Other Names: Tinnus, Taranus. Location: Britain. Description: Thunder God. In early Gaul human sacrifices were offered to him to influence the weather. He was also God of the wheel as well as God of Fertility and a Sky God. Rules Over: Seasonal rites, weather magick, fertility spells.

Taranis Description: Death Goddess to whom human sacrifices were offered. Rules Over: Passing Over rituals.

Tethra Location: Ireland. Description: King of the FirBolgs after they were banished into the sea. He is now seen as a minor death God. Rules Over: Water magick, faery contact, weather magick, sea.

Tlachtga Location: Ireland. Description: Goddess of sacrifice. She died giving birth to triplets fathered by three different men. Associated with Samhain, and her rites were once held on her sacred hill in County Meade, a site which held her name. Today it is known as the Hill of Ward. Rules Over: Samhain rituals, Croneage rites of passage.

Triduana Location: Scotland. Description: Goddess of Edinburgh who plucked out her eyes to erradicate her own beauty rather than submit to the advances of Nechtan, King of the Picts. Some believe she is an eastern Scottish version of the Irish Goddess brrid.

The Triple Goddess Description: The Triple Goddess is known and worshiped in Pagan cultures all over the world. She is eternal, yet always in a state of change. Her colors are white for the maiden, red for the mother and black for the crone. The Symbol of the Triple Goddess is the Waxing, Full and Waning Moons.

Tuan MacCarell Other Names: MacCairill. Location: Ireland. Description: Nephew of Partholan was a hero who was created a God of animals and the woodlands by the mother Goddess Dana. Rules Over: Past-lives, shape-shifting, animals, ecological magick, woodlands.

Turrean Other Names: Tureann. Location: Ireland. Description: Beautiful Goddess who was transformed into the first large, shaggy Irish Wolfhound by a jealous faery queen named Uchtdealbh. The spell had a flaw. Not only did it turn Turrean into a dog, but quite literally, she became the most beautiful dog ever seen on earth. She was kept prisoner at Uchtdealbh's home in Galway Bay until her brother, the warrior chief Fionn MacCumhal, saved her and her two sons, Bran and Sgeolan, who stayed in the shape of the dogs for the rest of their lives. (The sons are often depicted as guard dogs seated near Fionn.) Rules Over: Making the best of bad situations, dog, dog familiars, New Year rites.

Uairebhuidhe Location: Ireland. Description: Bird Goddess whom little is known about today. Most likely a goddess of death or Otherworld. Maybe even a consort of the better-known bird God Nemglan.

Uathach Location: Ireland, Scotland. Description: Goddess who trained warriors to fight. One of the many mistresses Cuchulain had over his life. Rules Over: Proteciton and strength.

Vaga Description: Goddess of teh River Wye.

Verbeia Description: Goddess of the Wharfe and Avon Rivers.

Wachilt Description: Minor sea Goddess later called a "witch" in English mythology. Mother of Wayland the Smith who is a German God honored in England.

White Lady Location: Known to all Celtic countries. Description: Dryad of Death. Queen of the Dead. The crone form of the Goddess. Rules Over: Death, destruction, annihilation.

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ma-sulevin · 7 years

Text

The Life and Times of Sophie Amell: The Blight

Rating: M

Relationship: Female Amell/Alistair Theirin (this chapter)

Summary: Sophie Amell was just a very young girl when the entire course of her life changed because she can summon flames at her fingertips. Each time she thinks her life is settling into something resembling normalcy, everything changes once again. She’s conscripted into the Grey Wardens, she’s sent to Amaranthine, or she loses someone she loves.

Usually, she loses the ones she loves every time her life changes.

This is the story of unwilling Warden Sophie Amell, told in four parts: The Tower, The Blight, The Wardens, and The Calling.

Part Two. The Blight. (Read on AO3)

[chapter one] [masterpost]

Sophie pokes at the campfire with a deep scowl on her face. Morrigan, the apostate who clearly does not want to travel with them, sits several yards away by her own fire. Alistair, the Warden who follows Sophie around like a lost puppy, is already reclined on his bedroll with his eyes hidden in the crook of his elbow.

Aoife, the actual lost puppy following Sophie around, sits at attention by her side. Her ears are perked up, taking her turn on guard duty to allow her humans time to relax. Sophie mentioned it once in passing, as a joke, but Aoife takes her job seriously. Each little noise that comes from the forest makes Aoife’s ears perk up and her head swivels to investigate, but she only barks when it’s bandits or darkspawn.

It’s pretty amazing, actually.

A quiet sniff comes from Alistair’s direction, and Aoife’s head swivels to look at him. After a moment she looks up at Sophie with a clear question in her eyes. Sophie narrows her eyes, but nods, and Aoife immediately bounds around the fire to snuffle at Alistair’s face.

He jumps, flinching away from the hound, and when he sits up Sophie sees tears glistening on his face. She turns away from him just as he buries his face against Aoife’s side, large hands scratching through her fur.

Sophie sighs and rubs her fingers over her face. This is going to be a long walk to Lothering.

---

Jowan is in Redcliffe Castle’s dungeon.

JOWAN is in Redcliffe.

He glares at Sophie when he recognizes her and refuses to help them clear the rest of the castle of corpses, claiming that he’s safer in the cell than out of it.

Alistair wants to know the story. She knows he does, but she doesn't tell him. She's still angry.

If he hadn't turned to blood magic, if he hadn't turned to her for help, she'd still be in the Circle.

She'd still be with Cullen, and she would be happy.

She takes out her anger on each reanimated corpse that climbs out of the ground to fight them, sending bursts of flames at them that knock them shrieking to the ground. Aoife bites at their ankles, knocking them down so that Leliana can pin them to the ground with her arrows.

Each corpse that falls makes Sophie feel just a little better. Even the arcane horror, something she's only ever read about, makes her feel stronger.

That feeling disappears when they find Connor.

---

“This is the only way!”

Sophie props her hands on her hips as she glares at Jowan. He's so sure of himself, despite everything he did before she arrived. This is all his fault.

Everything is Jowan’s fault.

“I'm not killing Connor or Isolde,” Sophie snaps. Alistair and Leliana breathe audible sighs of relief behind her, and Aoife chuffs approvingly. Sophie places her hand on the mabari’s head and ruffles her fur. “It's the fastest way, but it isn't the only one. I'm certain some of the senior enchanters will know a way to enter the Fade without killing anyone.”

Teagan nods and rubs his chin with one hand. “The Circle is only a day’s boat ride away. You could be there and back in two, three days at most.”

“Every day you're gone is another day innocent people in the village die at the hands of the corpses,” Jowan points out.

Sophie turns her glare to him, and he takes an involuntary step back. “Who’s fault is that now, Jowan?”

Leliana steps forward and places a soothing hand on Sophie’s arm. “The guards in the castle can help the villagers burn the rest of the bodies. Then there will be no more corpses to fight.”

Teagan nods again. “Yes. Now that we know what's been happening here…” he glances at Isolde but quickly turns back to Sophie. “If there's a possibility we can save Isolde and Connor, I suggest we take it.”

Sophie turns to look at Alistair and Leliana. They both give her encouraging smiles, so she turns back to Teagan. “You can provide us with a boat?”

“Of course. Whatever you need.”

“Okay then. Morrigan and Sten are both still in the village, helping the refugees. Tell them where we’ve gone.” She pats Aoife on the head. “Let's go, girl.”

---

The Circle is being Annulled. Greagoir doesn't care, he doesn't even blink when he realizes she's returned to the tower. His face doesn't change as he explains that the Circle fell to blood mages and abominations, and he closed the great doors to keep them in and the escaped templars safe.

Irving is still inside.

So is Cullen.

Sophie doesn't blink either as she volunteers to rid the Circle of abominations for him. She hears the creak of Alistair’s armor as he shifts on his feet behind her, but she pushes forward and demands entrance. She won't be dissuaded.

When Greagoir gives in, it's with a barely disguised sigh. He's tired, so tired, and he can't bring himself to care whether or not this mage, the mage he didn't even want to leave the tower in the first place, reenters the tower and kills the abomination or dies.

He lets them through the doors, and she stalks through with her head held high.

---

It's easy to lose track of time in the Circle. Everything looks the same from one moment to the next, and the exhaustion that comes from battling an endless stream of demons and blood mages and abominations makes that problem worse.

Sophie can barely remember the little boy named Connor who needs her help, the little mage whose parents loved him enough to protect him from the templars. A desire demon is controlling him, and he's scared. He needs her.

She almost gives up when she finds a dragon on one of the upper floors. It's too ridiculous, too dangerous, and it catches her robes on fire. It doesn't burn her, fire has never hurt her even before her magic showed, but it fuels her anger until she beats the next abomination she finds with her staff until it's just a bloody mess at her feet.

Alistair puts his hand on her back, a soothing weight even through the layers of fabric, as she fights to catch her breath. She drops her staff and leans forward to rest her hands on her knees, teeth grinding together as she holds back the tears that are suddenly clawing at her eyes.

Wynne approaches the pair, leaning heavily against Leliana, and accepts a health potion from the rogue. She's frowning down at Sophie but doesn't speak, years of dealing with young mages telling her Sophie just needs a moment.

Alistair looks completely lost, his lips parted as he looks from Leliana to Wynne. Only Aoife seems to know what to do, and she trots right up to Sophie and nuzzles against the skin of her now-bare leg.

When she's recovered, she marches forward, determined again, anger simmering.

When the sloth demon pulls her into its dream, she burns through the Fade to retrieve her companions. Niall tells her about the Litany, and she leaves promising that she'll avenge his death.

And she does, slaying the sloth demon and setting its body aflame without a thought.

The templar barracks are empty save for some enthralled templars and abominations. They run through quickly, searching for Irving but heading for the Harrowing chamber.

When they finally push through the last door, Sophie freezes mid-step at the sight before her.

It's a static cage. She's heard of them, read about them before in her studies, but she's never seen one actually holding anything.

And this one holds Cullen.

He falls to his knees when he sees her, sobbing, voice pleading with the demon to release him from its torture.

All the tears she's been holding back at seeing her home torn to shreds fall at once when she sees Cullen, her Cullen, being ripped apart in front of her.

My ill-advised infatuation with her, a mage of all things.

My deepest desire.

“You're still here.” His voice is quiet, wavering, and he stays on his knees before Sophie. She’s collapsed on the floor in front of him, as close as she can get without touching the magic trapping him. “But that always worked before.”

Behind her, Wynne sighs and clucks her tongue. “The poor boy is exhausted.”

Cullen glances up at Wynne then looks back down at Sophie, confusion written all over his face. Wynne is right--he looks exhausted, blood and sweat drying on his face, deep shadows under his eyes, his hands shaking.

Sophie’s heart aches.

“We’ll get you out of here, Cullen,” she promises. “Where is Uldred?”

When Cullen begs Sophie to kill all the remaining mages to avoid sparing a maleficar, her sadness is overwhelmed by anger. How dare he demand this of her?

How dare he?

“He doesn't know what he's saying,” Wynne soothes, her feathers unruffled by Cullen’s hateful words. “He's been held here for days. You wouldn't be faring much better.”

Sophie pulls herself to her feet and turns on Wynne, not seeing the way Cullen stands too and pulls a handkerchief out of his sleeve, a little scrap of fabric with an embroidered SA , to wipe his face.

“I certainly wouldn't ask you to murder innocents,” she says, glaring up at Wynne. “I wouldn't call for annulling the Circle. Templars,” she spits, turning back to Cullen, “don't know how to trust.”

She leaves him and doesn't look back, hands trembling too and more tears ready to fall.

Uldred transforms into a pride demon. Sophie isn't surprised; she's just tired of fighting. She doesn't even know how long she's been in the Circle this time.

Has it been weeks? Days? Hours?

Leliana recites the Litany and saves the mages still alive from becoming abominations. Irving is still alive, huddled with a few mages and an apprentice Sophie recognizes. She embraces them all, even Irving, and they all begin climbing down the tower’s many steps.

Cullen’s already gone when they get down the first flight. He's waiting for them outside of the great doors, head hanging low between his shoulders. He doesn't look at the rescued mages as they wait for Greagoir to let them out.

As Sophie explains to Greagoir what happened in the tower, the little apprentice tends to their wounds. Her face is smeared with dust and tears, and her hands shake, but she heals Sophie’s companions without complaint.

Aoife trots over to be petted, and Alistair passes the mage a mabari crunch. “What's your name?” he asks.

She looks at him with wide eyes as Aoife licks her fingers to make sure there aren't any crumbs left behind. “Rose.”

“I'm Alistair.” He summons up a crooked smile, and she grins back as her cheeks heat. “Thanks for healing me. Are you alright?”

She shrugs at his question, but before she can answer, Cullen’s voice becomes too loud to ignore.

Alistair hoists himself to his feet and crosses over to stand by Sophie. He puts his hand on the small of her back and she leans into his touch, turning away from Cullen. She won't look at him, even when he spies Rose in the corner and starts yelling at her instead.

Irving agrees to send mages to support the Wardens when it's time, even As Greagoir drags Cullen away from the group. Sophie glances over her shoulder to see a sobbing Rose clutching the blonde mage’s robes for dear life. What is her name?

They leave the Circle in better shape than they found it, but not by much. Irving promises to follow the next day; he needs time to sleep and gather lyrium potions before he can help fight yet another demon.

---

“I wanted to thank you,” Alistair murmurs, sitting down next to her by the fire. “For saving Connor. I know doing what we had to do… going back to the Circle wasn't easy for you.”

Sophie is well into her cups, and she just grins sloppily at Alistair in return. “Well. I'm just glad we didn't put it off any longer. We would have lost everybody!” She makes a wide gesture with her hands and spills some ale over the side of her mug, and she glares at her hand like it personally offended her.

“Yes, well…” Alistair trails off and narrows his eyes at her, judging how sober she is. “You and that Templar… the one at the top of the tower.”

Sophie’s eyes focus on him with enough speed that he leans back a little, suddenly afraid. “Cullen,” she supplies, then waits for the rest of his question.

“Were you two, um…” Alistair’s blush, the cute one where he starts stammering, covers his face and Sophie leans toward him.

“Were we what?” She puts her hand on his knee and leans in, the smile back. Drunken Sophie looks at Alistair more closely than sober Sophie ever has, noticing how big he looks, tall and wide, strong enough to wield a sword and shield and stand up to the darkspawn that come for her. She licks her lips and tastes the ale she’s been drinking. She slides her hand farther up Alistair’s thigh, just a hair, but he jumps anyway.

“Were you, uh,” he stammers again, glancing down at her hand then up at her face. He scans the campsite around him and sees Aoife watching them closely. When he sends the mabari a wide-eyed look, she stretches slowly before padding over to sit beside Sophie. The mage moves her hand from Alistair’s leg to grab the scruff at the back of Aoife’s neck instead, and Alistair visibly relaxes.

Aoife sends him an amused look that has him blushing all over again.

“You know,” he presses on, drawing Sophie’s gaze back to him even if her touch stays away. “Were you two together. In the tower.”

She scoffs and kisses Aoife’s ear, avoiding Alistair’s eyes. “Of course not. Mages and templars. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Oh.” Alistair frowns at her, but accepts her explanation.

She rests her head against Aoife’s side and smiles, looking back up at him. “Were you jealous ?”

Alistair’s mouth drops open, either in shock or to reply, but Aoife’s little borf cuts him off. Sophie giggles and flips the mabari’s ear inside out and then back again.

“She thinks you were.” Sophie and Aoife both turn to look at Alistair, nearly identical amused expressions on their faces.

Alistair shifts uncomfortably and moves to stand, putting distance between himself and Sophie’s laughter. When she sees him pulling away, she follows immediately, rising up on her knees to put her hands on his shoulders. He freezes again and waits as she levels him with the most serious stare she can manage.

“Wait, don’t leave me.”

At her words, Alistair melts back into a sitting position, and Sophie scoots to sit next to him. She leans her head against his shoulder, and he slowly puts his arm around her, supporting her back. Aoife tilts her head to the side, studying the pair, then gives an approving huff and lays down to rest her head on her paws.

“I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have asked.” Alistair rests his cheek against the top of her head and resists the impulse to kiss her there.

“No, no.” Sophie pat his knee. “I shouldn’t have--shouldn’t have teased.” her words slur, but she still sounds alert as she nuzzles against Alistair’s side. “You’re too sweet, I think.”

Alistair clears his throat, the blush already coming back at her words. He looks away just in time to see Leliana climbing out of her tent, her eyebrows raised at the position of the Wardens. He widens his eyes in an expression of both I’m innocent and I don’t know what’s happening help, but the bard just giggles and wanders off with her water skins.

“You’re blushing now, aren’t you?” Alistair’s heavy sigh is enough of an answer for her, and she has to suppress another giggle. She sits up, slightly, just enough to turn and look up at him. “See? You are sweet.” She pauses, tilting her head to the side, and he watches as her eyes roam openly over his face. “I want to kiss you. Is that okay?”

He stares blankly at her for a heartbeat, face turning all sorts of shades of red and white, before he finally finds his words: “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Oh.” Her mouth twists into a little pout, but she shrugs. “Okay.” She puts her head back on his shoulder and lets her eyes drift closed. Alistair meets Aoife’s eyes and frowns at the mabari’s expression of approval.

When Leliana comes back from the nearby stream with water to drink, Sophie is asleep still curled against Alistair’s side. She stands across the campfire from them and props her hands on her hips. She smiles, a grin that makes Alistair’s blush start up again, and asks, “Having fun?”

She glances meaningfully at Sophie’s reclining form, earning herself an eye roll. Aoife raises her head and stares back at Leliana, telling her to go away. Leliana’s smile slips off of her face and she obeys, leaving Alistair and the sleeping Sophie alone.

---

“I have something for you.” Sophie looks up from where she’s bent over her bedroll, smoothing out the blankets by the fire. It’s too hot to sleep in a tent, so she and Alistair have taken to sleeping under the stars. Aoife loves it; she settles between their bedrolls and takes turns keeping watch with them.

Alistair has one hand behind his back, and he grins a little lopsidedly at her. She glances around the camp, but they’re alone for now, or as alone as they can be. She nods up at him and sits back, stretching her legs out toward the fire, and waits as he pulls a single rose out from behind his back and holds it out to her.

She takes it automatically, fingers automatically avoiding the thorns that dance up its stem. “A rose?”

He takes a deep breath before starting to explain: “I picked this in Lothering. I remember thinking, how could something so beautiful exist somewhere with so much despair and ugliness? I thought that I might…” he stops and takes another breath, face warming as he forces out the rest of the words in a rush: “give it to you, actually. In a lot of ways, that's what I think when I look at you.”

Sophie’s eyes narrow as she listens to him, her cheeks taking on a pinkish hue under her freckles, and she buries her nose in the rose’s petals. She breathes deeply, inhaling its delicate scent. When she looks up again Alistair is still staring at her, a little grin on his face. She finds herself returning the expression without considering why.

“That’s very lovely, Alistair,” she finally says. “Thank you.”

His face transforms into a heart-stopping grin and oh . Sophie suddenly remembers the impulse she had to kiss him when they left Redcliffe, and she wonders if he’s changed his mind about whether it’s a good idea.

Apparently he has, because he watches her lick her lips before leaning forward, reaching for her hand at the same time. She lets him pull her forward, scooting until she’s at the edge of her bedroll and his chapped lips are pressing against hers.

It’s hesitant, gentle, exactly how she imagined he would kiss, and she leans into it. She puts the rose down behind her so it will be safe and puts her free hand on the back of his neck to hold him closer.

It’s an awkward way to kiss, sitting across from each other like they are, but she smiles against his lips and holds his hair just a little tighter, encouraging him to stay.

He breaks their kiss after a moment but doesn’t pull all the way away, hovering over her with her hand still in his hair. “Was that… was that okay?”

She blinks up at him and pulls her hand free. He sits back down, just a little closer than he had been before, and waits for her answer. His expectant look is so much like Aoife’s when she’s waiting for a bone that it’s a struggle not to laugh.

“Alistair.” She tilts her head to the side and allows him a smile. “You may do that whenever you like.”

That wide grin is back, and Sophie’s heart constricts in her chest. Cullen used to look at her like that. Before.

“Well…” he draws out the word the way he does sometimes to make her laugh, and she rewards him with a breathy chuckle. “I’ll certainly keep that in mind.”

---

They’re nearly to the Frostbacks on their search for Brother Genitivi when Alistair approaches Sophie to help her put up her tent. She smiles at him, a silent thanks, then steps into his arms when her tent is secured. He wraps his cloak around her, trapping her in his warmth, and she sighs against him.

“Aoife wants to know if you’ll sleep in our tent with us.” Sophie speaks directly into Alistair’s chest, muffling her words, but he freezes and Aoife sneezes her disagreement from the other side of the fire. They both ignore her. “We don’t have to… I’m not asking you to do anything other than sleep,” she explains, tilting her head up so that her chin is resting on his sternum. “You’re just so warm. ”

Alistair doesn’t answer at first, rubbing his hand idly over her back instead. “I didn’t think you got cold. Your skin feels like fire all the time.”

Sophie grins and arches up on her tiptoes, encouraging him to lean down and kiss her, and he obeys. He’s right, too--her face is hot against his, warming his skin wherever they touch. As her hands snake around his waist and tuck under his shirt to rest flat against his back, he decides sleeping in her tent wouldn’t be the worst thing he could do.

So he does, despite the embarrassment he feels from not bothering setting up his tent. Leliana, Zevran, and Wynne are all shooting him knowing looks, and even Aoife looks especially smug when she sits down next to Sophie for her evening meal.

When they retire, finally, it’s to a few lewd suggestions from Leliana and an offer of guidance from Zevran. While Alistair’s face burns, Sophie just smiles and gives them a rude gesture before tying the tent flap closed.

Secure in their tents, she meets Alistair’s eyes. His face is hot and he can’t seem to meet her gaze. She settles on her bedroll next to his and takes his hand. She squeezes his fingers gently, pulling his attention to her face. He smiles and she leans in to kiss his cheek before turning away to undress.

She strips out of her light armor and piles it on the ground next to her, leaving her in just a long sleeved tunic and leggings. She glances at Alistair to make sure he’s okay--he still looks mottled and blotchy but he’s taking his armor off too--and she lays down on her side before pulling her blanket up to her shoulders.

When Alistair is just in his trousers he stretches out on his back next to her, pulling his blanket up over his bare chest. He’s on his back, not close enough to touch, and she sighs lightly to get his attention.

“You’re not going to keep me warm from over there,” she points out. He hesitates, still, and she rolls over to look at him. He’s staring up at the roof of the tent with his hands tucked behind his head. He doesn’t move when she turns, so she stretches out a hand and places it against his side. “Alistair, if you’re uncomfortable--”

He turns, finally, and meets her gaze. “That’s not it.” His voice is a whisper, mindful of the camp full of people just outside their thin canvas walls. He rolls onto his side, one arm still under his head, and tucks the other against his chest. “I just don’t know what I’m doing.”

A moment passes before Sophie realizes what he’s saying, but she just smiles at him. “Oh, Alistair.” She reaches over to put her hand on his cheek, her thumb rubbing gently across his cheekbone. “I bet you’re a natural.” His face colors under her touch, and she continues, “I’m just asking you to keep me warm, though, is that okay?”

When Alistair nods at her, she rolls onto her other side and backs against him. He arranges their blankets so that their bodies are both covered, then drapes his arm across her stomach and pulls her flush against him. She sighs in contentment and wiggles closer to him, ignoring the little shudder that runs through his body at the contact.

That can come later.

---

They make it nearly all the way back to Redcliffe with Andraste’s ashes--or what are supposed to be Andraste’s ashes--before Alistair’s careful control finally starts to break. He sets up her tent as always, used to Zevran’s gentle ribbing by now, tells a perpetually unimpressed Aoife to watch out for darkspawn, and disappeared into the tenuous privacy afforded by the thin canvas with Sophie.

Their nighttime routine is always the same: unless one of them has a shift watching for darkspawn, they climb into the tent early, take off their armor and weapons, cuddle up under the blankets, and sleep for as long as they can before darkspawn dreams disturb them.

Tonight, instead of falling right to sleep, Alistair dips his hand under the hem of her shirt to rest against her stomach and pulls her flat against him. He nuzzles into the hair at the base of her neck, sending a shiver through her body. She immediately warms under his attentions, heat pooling in her core, and squirms back against him.

This encourages a little moan out of him, so she does it again. His hand slips a little higher under her shirt, and she shivers all over.

Alistair laughs, a little huff of air against her neck, and she puts her hand on his arm to encourage him to move it higher. When he obeys and finally cups one of her breasts, she sighs in contentment as his hips move against her backside.

“Am I--” Alistair stops, body freezing in place, and starts again. “Is this okay?”

Sophie’s sigh comes out as a quiet hum. “Yes, Alistair. You may do whatever you’d like to me. I wish you would.” She wiggles slightly to punctuate her statement, pulling a strangled groan out of him. He pulls his hand out of her shirt immediately and puts it on her hip, squeezing to still her.

She obeys instantly, pulling away and turning until she’s facing him. His face is grim, jaw set, and she cups his face with one hand as she props herself up on her other elbow. “What’s wrong?”

His face is bright red as he avoids her gaze, free hand moving to adjust the blanket over his hips, hiding his growing arousal from her. Still so embarrassed. She strokes his jaw again and waits for him to work up the courage to speak.

“I just… I’m falling in love with you, Soph.” It’s her turn to freeze, her hand stilling over the prickly growth of new beard. Alistair clenches his jaw at her reaction, and she can feel the joint working under his skin. “I just didn’t want to… keep doing that and you not know how I feel.”

Sophie bites her lip as he speaks, war raging in her mind and in her heart. She cares for Alistair, certainly. Enough to have him share her bedroll at night even without the promise of sex. He’s the only man she’s actually slept with, and that has to count for something, doesn’t it?

But love?

She loved Cullen, the templar who stole her heart instead of protecting her. And where had that led her? It was ill-advised, certainly. That’s how Cullen had described it in his prison. An ill-advised affair, a tryst between a mage and a templar. Something for the tawdry romance novels sometimes found stuffed within other books on the library shelves.

Alistair waits for her to speak, high spots of color on his cheeks, but no anger or hurt registering in his warm brown eyes. He’s just waiting, calmly, for her to find words for her feelings. He doesn’t want to pressure her; he doesn’t want to trick her. He’s pure. Too pure to be a Warden, a warrior, certainly.

She doesn’t love him now, but she could love him. If she can figure out how to let herself, she could fall as hard for him as she did for Cullen, back before she knew what real pain and fighting look like. Before she knew the scent of demons, abominations, darkspawn, and blood magic. Before she woke up regularly from nightmares that have nothing to do with demons, shaking and crying in another man’s arms.

She must have started smiling a little as she thought, because Alistair is starting to smile up at her too. Hope blooms in his eyes as he waits, but wait he does.

“Thank you for telling me,” she says, and wants to cry as she sees that hope die a little. “I…” she tries to say the words and they stick in her throat. She looks away from him and takes a deep breath before trying again. “I could love you, Alistair. If we survive this. You are…” words run through her head, none she can say aloud: perfect, too good, more than I deserve. She settles on finishing with “a wonderful man,” and smiles as he blushes hotter.

“Can I kiss you?” Alistair’s question is so innocent, his hand uncertain where it reaches to cup the back of her head, as though they haven’t been sharing a bed for weeks.

At Sophie’s smile and nod, he pulls her down to him rather than sitting up to meet her. She relaxes against him, slipping down in their bedroll to press her body into his.

She’s careful not to push, not to ask for more than he wants to give, but the new honesty between them seems to have made him more comfortable. He rolls them almost immediately, settling between her legs. The heavy weight of him, balanced on his elbows above her, makes goosebumps break out over her whole body and her breath come out as a shuddering sigh that has him smiling.

“Tell me what to do.” He nuzzles against the crook of her neck, tickling her over-sensitive skin. He presses an open-mouthed kiss to her pulse, and she swallows hard before she can answer.

“Just touch me,” she manages. “Kiss me.”

“Where?” Another kiss, this one to the underside of her jaw. She turns her head, exposing her ear to him, and he pulls the lobe between his lips.

“Everywhere.”

---

Alistair touches her whenever he has the chance. After a battle, before they part ways, as they’re sleeping, it doesn’t matter. It’s like he’s drawn to her, following in her wake like she’s the only bright spot in his life.

She may well be.

She watches as he polishes his armor, the motions careful and practiced, a habit developed over nearly ten years as a templar recruit and then nearly a year of being a Grey Warden. It’s methodical, and he does it the same way every evening. It’s a soothing sight, she thinks, even as she gets distracted by the fact that she’s been with him long enough to have memorized his habits.

Does he think the same of hers?

He glances up and catches her staring at him. Even a few weeks ago, they both would have blushed and avoided each other’s gaze, but now that they’re sharing more than just their tent he just raises one eyebrow and earns himself a smirk.

The expression covers up her uncertainty. He grins back at her, seemingly unaware, and finishes working with his armor in favor of cleaning and sharpening his sword. Darkspawn blood isn’t kind to the little group’s weapons.

When he’s finished with that and finds her still staring at him, his lips twist into a smirk. It’s an expression she easily recognizes, and her body responds to its intention immediately. Her face flushes as heat pools in her core, and Aoife lifts her head to sniff at the air before glancing with amusement between her humans.

Alistair stands, his sword still clutched in one hand, and offers his other hand to her. She takes it and lets him pull her to her feet and out of camp. Aoife follows a little ways, staying just close enough to warn them if they’re going to have company--friendly or otherwise.

When they’re alone, Alistair wraps his free arm around her waist to pull her body flush against his and kisses her soundly, his tongue immediately dipping into her mouth. She digs her fingers into the back of his neck and fairly climbs his body until he’s forced to drop his sword and support her with both arms tucked under her ass.

Almost as if they belong there.

He takes a few steps to press her back against the nearest tree, using it to bring their bodies even closer together. With her hands still buried in his hair, Alistair turns his attention to kissing down the line of her neck to the hollow of her throat, dipping his tongue against her heated skin.

This is the kind of sex that her body is used to, heady and fast, and she nearly whines with excited impatience as Alistair fumbles pushing her robes out of the way. He laughs against her skin, but her urgency is infectious.

His face finds its way back into the crook of her neck where he nibbles on her skin, leaving little marks she can heal if she wants to, but he knows she won’t. It embarrassed him once, but now he does it whenever he can.

They move together, finding a rhythm that serves them both. Each of Sophie’s gasps and muffled moans thrill Alistair, making him smile even as his pleasure builds too.

She comes silently, pulling on Alistair’s hair where it’s fisted in one hand, then murmurs his name in his ear as she relaxes. She kisses his cheek, his ear, rasps her lips along the scruff of his jaw, and finally just rests her forehead against his as a string of mumbled curses roll off of his tongue, signaling his end.

They relax together, slowly, just breathing deeply together, and Alistair kisses her firmly before setting her down on her feet. She clings to him, hands on his shoulders, for another long moment until her legs stop trembling.

Alistair steps away from her, pulling his trousers back up and retying them before wiping at the sweat beading on his face with his sleeve. He scoops his sword up and turns just in time to see Sophie holding her ripped smalls up for his inspection.

Her face is still flushed with pleasure, and when she arches an eyebrow at him it makes desire for her stir again. He grins at her, utterly unapologetic, and she tosses the material at his face. He catches it easily, tucking it in his pocket, and steps closer to wrap an arm around her shoulders.

“You owe me another new pair,” she snaps, no anger in her voice. A smile pulls at her lips that she tries to hide as he guides her back toward camp.

He chuckles. “I’m sure the Dalish have some you can buy when we get there,” he points out. Aoife greets them at the edge of camp with a knowing look and a wagging tail.

Sophie reaches out and rubs behind her ears, ignoring the little flush of embarrassment that comes with the thought of haggling with an elf over the price of smalls.

Alistair ignores the glances they get from their companions, a tough skin building up after weeks together, and watches as Sophie glides across the campsite to giggle about something with Leliana.

Words catch on the tip of his tongue as he watches her, words she’s still not ready to say. His chest tightens and he swallows down the I love you that threatens to come out. Aoife huffs next to him, and he squats to give her a good scratch behind the ears.

“We’ll get her there, won’t we girl?” Alistair waits as Aoife considers his question, then smiles as the mabari licks his cheek with her wide tongue.

He’ll take that as a yes.

---

He’s disappointed but not surprised when she declares him king at the Landsmeet. It isn’t what he wanted, but it’s what’s best for Ferelden. She knows this. It’s why she chose him over Anora.

At least she didn’t insist on Anora ruling at his side. That would be… not ideal.

Sophie stands behind him and to the side as he accepts his duty, her hands clasped behind her back. When he turns back to look at her, she bows to him and his stomach twists uncomfortably at the sight. It feels wrong to see her subservient to him, and he resolves to speak to her about it.

He would have her at his side if he could, if Ferelden was ready, if Chantry Law allowed it.

Teagan and Eamon corner him before he can speak to Sophie, and she slips away. They remind Alistair of his duty to the Fereldan people and the Calenhad bloodline, of the importance of marrying well to ensure the future of the country.

The Cousland girl was at the Landsmeet with her brother Fergus, perhaps she would make a strong queen. She’s young yet, but in a few years. At least she’s firmly on Alistair’s side against Howe and Loghain. Arls Bryland and Wulff also have daughters of marriageable age, should Lady Cousland not be amenable to becoming queen, or should her brother not want to negotiate a contract.

Alistair refuses to respond to their questions. The idea of marrying another woman makes his stomach roll, and he can’t listen to his uncles speak for another moment. He pushes past them, determined and desperate to find Sophie wherever she’s waiting for him.

He pulls her out of the kitchens and away from everyone else, heading to the room waiting for him upstairs. She follows obediently, one hand clutched in his, and waits until he locks the door behind him to speak.

“Alistair, if you’re angry at me--”

“I’m not.” He silences her with a kiss, tugging her against his chest with the hand he still has gripped in his. He moves to grasp her waist, bending forward until he’s crowding over her. She sighs into his mouth and parts her lips farther to allow his tongue entrance.

When he finally breaks the kiss, she’s breathless and her lips are slightly swollen. She sags against him, fingers digging into the collar of his shirt. He smiles down at her unfocused expression and nudges her nose with his.

“I don’t want to lose you.”

She tilts her head to the side and stares up at him. Her forehead wrinkles as she considers his words. “Who said you’re going to lose me?”

Alistair opens his mouth to respond, then pauses. Sophie’s staring up at him with a growing look of stubbornness on her face, her jaw clenching. He sighs and rests his forehead against hers, rubbing his hands up and down her arms.

“I need to take a queen,” he murmurs. “I need to have an heir.”

She nods and closes his eyes as he continues running warm hands over her skin. “I can’t do either,” she says. There’s only a hint of sadness in her voice, no anger. “Even if I wasn’t a Grey Warden, I’m still a mage.” She leans forward and rests her head against his chest. “You’ll be the king after this. No one can tell the king what to do.”

He rests his chin on the top of her head. “You would stay with me. You’d be the court enchanter and my… my mistress?”

Sophie takes a moment to consider this as the offer it is. Could she stay in the palace and watch him marry another? Did she care for him enough to stay and work for the crown and warm his bed on the nights he doesn’t want to be with his wife?

The thought of him with another woman makes a surge of anger rise up in her chest, but she quickly pushes it down and away. It’s not his fault she was born a mage. He would marry her if he could. He would stay with her if he could, and this is the only way.

Finally, she nods. “Yes. I’ll stay as long as you’ll have me.”

Alistair’s arms tighten around her until she can barely breathe, and she has to squeak out a protest before he relaxes his hold again.

It isn’t an I love you but it’s the closest she’s come, and his heart swells.

He adjusts his grip on her and lifts her until her face is above his, their chests pressed together, and walks the few steps to his bed. She laughs, hands clutching at his hair, and the smile she gives him as he sets her down is one he’ll remember for as long as he lives.

---

Sophie is waiting in Alistair’s room when Morrigan’s ritual is completed. She sits on the edge of his bed, her heels resting on the frame, her head in her hands. Her shoulders shake softly as tears she can’t control escape her eyes, and she doesn’t even notice when he enters until he puts his hand on her shoulder.

He sinks onto the mattress next to her and wraps his arm around her shoulder, tucking her against his chest. She nuzzles into his tunic and her stomach turns over when she realizes.

He still smells like Morrigan.

She turns her head away from him as she catches her breath, desperate to stop crying. She needs to be strong. This was harder for him than it was for her, even if they did it to stay alive and together no matter what happens.

It’s only when she finally sits up and wipes at her face with her sleeve that she realizes Alistair was crying too. His eyes are red-rimmed and his cheeks blotchy, but his face is dry.

He puts his hand on either side of her face and pulls her forehead to rest against his. He closes his eyes and just breathes in her scent, slowly calming himself. She puts her hands on his and they take deep breaths together.

Alistair breaks the silence first. “I’m sorry,” he says, voice quiet. Broken.

Sophie’s eyes blink open. “What? Why?”

“That you had to make that decision for me. That I let you. That I… Morrigan…” he can’t finish his apology, just pulls Sophie closer to him. She wraps her arms around his shoulders and pulls his face into the crook of her neck, running her fingers through his hair. He sniffs quietly, but his shoulders don’t shake.

“Come, love,” Sophie says finally, pulling out of Alistair’s arms and standing up, missing the look of utter delight that passes over his face at the name. “There’s a bath waiting for me in my room. I’ll share it with you.”

Alistair lets Sophie lead him by the hand down the hall and into her room. She locks the door behind them as he starts to undress, then she reaches one hand into the tub. The water is tepid, having sat while Morrigan’s ritual was completed. She heats it easily until it steams, then waits as Alistair steps behind her to undo the laces of her dress.

He kisses the back of her neck as he exposes the skin, moving down her spine as far as he can reach without kneeling. When the laces are undone, he slides his rough hands up from her waist to her shoulders, pushing the material away until it lands on the floor around their feet, leaving her just in her smalls.

He wraps his arms around her and pulls her back against him, and she can feel his nakedness pressed against her. She sighs in contentment as he leans down to kiss her cheek, forcing herself to forget what happened before.

“You should wear dresses more often,” he whispers. “They suit you.” His hands wander again, up to cup her bare breasts, then down to push her smalls over her hips. “They look better on the floor, however.”

Sophie’s surprised laugh comes out as an inelegant snort, and Alistair laughs too. She pulls away from him and points to the tub, and he climbs in obediently. When she slides in behind him, the water sloshes over the side, but they both ignore it.

She works up a lather from the soaps left behind and washes Alistair’s back and hair. He hums in quiet contentment as her fingers massage into sore muscles, working out knots that have been there so long he forgot they shouldn’t be.

By the time she’s finished, he’s completely relaxed, resting against her chest and pushing her uncomfortably into the back of the tub. She runs soothing hands down his sides under the water, curling her fingers until her nails can scratch at him. He shivers, pulling away, and she laughs low into his ear.

She reaches lower, tickling at the edge of his hip, as far down as she can reach. He shivers again, grabbing her hand.

“Stop that.”

She kisses his cheek. “Why?” When he doesn’t answer, she pulls her hand from his grasp and scratches over his chest, mussing the light smattering of auburn hair in the center. She nuzzles her face against his and smooths over one of his nipples, startling a tiny moan from him.

“Sophie.”

“What?” She does it again, and he grabs her hand once more to still it. Water sloshes up toward the side of the tub, and she tries to pull away.

Alistair sits up and turns around as best he can, pulling Sophie’s hand up to press his lips to the fleshy part of her thumb. “Please don’t start something you won’t want to finish.” He moves to kiss her wrist, pulling her closer as he kisses up her arm until he can kiss her lips.

She immediately bites his lower lip, tugging on it, earning herself a low, rumbling growl.

“I would never,” she admonishes, gently, then adds: “I just want to remind you who you belong to.”

Alistair leans in for another kiss and earns himself another bite. He shivers all over, running his tongue over his swollen lip. When his eyes meet Sophie’s again, a wolfish grin covers his face. “I belong to you, do I?”

She just blinks up at him. “Of course, your majesty.”

He narrows his eyes at her and shakes his head. “Bed, then, my lady.”

“I’m not sure that’s the proper title.” Sophie grabs a towel to wrap around herself as she stands and steps out of the tub. Alistair follows, drying off as they cross the room to the bed, already turned down.

He picks her up and drops her on the mattress, pulling her towel away from her as he crawls over her body, pressing her into the bed. “I’ll ask Teagan what it is, then,” he says, in a tone that says there will be no more talking for the rest of the night.

---

The ritual worked, at least. Sophie took the final blow and is still alive. The darkspawn ran away even before she pulled the sword out of the archdemon’s neck, and the horrific itching sensation that the archdemon made the Wardens feel disappeared too.

As soon as Alistair realizes the battle is won, he runs over and scoops Sophie up into his arms. He kisses her, heedless of the darkspawn blood covering her, the way she’s clutching her right arm to her chest, and the growing crowd surrounding them.

They both survived.

They’re going to be okay.

---

Morrigan is gone. She disappeared as the darkspawn did, off into the Wilds perhaps, as she promised. The coronation is tomorrow, and Alistair and Sophie are hiding in her room in the palace. Grey Wardens from Orlais are finally entering the country, too late to be of any use, just in time to question them about how they both survived.

“I don’t know” is their official answer.

They don’t know. They don’t know anything.

Alistair’s arms are around Sophie, but something feels wrong. A nagging discontent sits in the center of Sophie’s chest, keeping her awake.

His uncles hadn’t been happy to see her. Oh, they’d smiled and congratulated her and asked how she was healing, but their eyes had been hollow, hostile even. They don’t like her. They don’t want her here.

She shifts uncomfortably, and Alistair pulls her closer to his chest. He presses a kiss to her bare shoulder, then another under her ear, smiling against her skin as she shivers. He reaches up to smooth her hair away from his face and kisses her again.

“Sophie.”

“Mmm?”

“You know I love you?”

Sophie pauses, body tensing. Alistair just waits for her response, used to the way those words scare her by now. He avoids saying them because she doesn’t love him--she’s not in love with him--and he doesn’t want to make her uncomfortable. But they need to talk about this.

Finally, finally, she nods. “I do.”

He clears his throat and clenches his teeth together before continuing, “I know you don’t… feel the same way about me.” Sophie opens her mouth to protest, but he pushes through, “I know it was that templar, the one from the Circle. I thought you would be able to leave him behind, but I was wrong.”

“Alistair, I--”

“The coronation is tomorrow, and then the Wardens want one of us to be the new Warden-Commander of Ferelden. You’ll have to go away for that. Since the Howes lost Amaranthine after Rendon attacked the Couslands, I was considering giving it to the Wardens and naming you Arlessa.”

Sophie holds herself as still as she can, letting Alistair’s words wash over her. He’s just handing her over to the Wardens, after everything they’ve been through together.

“I thought you were going to make me Court Enchanter,” she manages, voice small.

Alistair’s arms tighten around her. “You’re a Warden first. If I wasn’t being coronated, I’m sure they’d make me go instead.”

“You don’t want me anymore.” What was it Cullen said in the tower? Ill-advised infatuation. Sophie’s eyes fill with tears and she struggles in Alistair’s arms for a moment before he releases her. She slips from the bed and reaches for her clothes, quickly dressing even as Alistair starts speaking again.

“I do want you, Soph. I’ll always want you. I just… I can’t keep you here, with me.” He sits up too, perching on the end of the bed. When she tries to pass by him to leave, he grabs her hands and pulls her against him. He wraps his arms around her and holds her close, though her body stays stiff, and rests his forehead against her shoulder.

He takes a deep breath and continues speaking into the silence between them. “I love you. I want you to stay with me. I would m… I can’t keep you here. You would be happier somewhere else. With someone else.” His voice is strangled, and that’s what makes Sophie finally break. She wraps her arms around his shoulders, sagging against him, and lets herself cry as she feels her dress growing wet under Alistair’s face.

“I don’t want to go,” she whispers, pressing her face into his hair.

“I could order you. I’m the king.”

Sophie swats the back of his head, very gently. “You don’t have authority over Wardens,” she reminds him, and smiles at his watery laugh.

His arms tighten around her waist. “I’m sorry.”

She shrugs. “I’m sorry too.”

[part three]

#my writing #2017 writing #sophie amell #self indulgence au

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